Mogadishu, 26 March 2025 – The Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission (AUC), Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and representatives from AUSSOM Troop and Police Contributing Countries have concluded a four-day technical working session to finalise the capabilities, force composition, and deployment plans of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The workshop, an important step toward the closure and liquidation of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the startup for AUSSOM, which becomes fully operational by 1 July 2025, was a follow-on session from the Somalia Operations Coordination Committee (SOCC) meeting which took place in February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Chiefs of Defence Forces, Inspectors General of Police, and Ministers of Defence and Security from both Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) to define the operational roadmap for AUSSOM.
“One of the key deliverables of this meeting is the finalisation of the Statement of Unit Requirements (SUR), which details the specific troop and police capabilities required for AUSSOM to effectively execute its mandate,” said the head of the AUC delegation, Brig. Gen. Billy Atwoki Winter.
The agreed SUR provides a detailed force composition, outlining the operational and logistical capability requirements for AUSSOM’s Military and Police contingents. It includes Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs), Tactical Battle Groups (TBGs), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, Aviation enablers, and Police components, elements designed to enhance AUSSOM’s operational effectiveness in countering Al-Shabaab and stabilising Somalia.
AUSSOM, which replaced ATMIS on 1 January 2025, as per United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2767 (2024), operates under a new Concept of Operations (CONOPS) adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its 1225th meeting on 1 August 2024. The meeting in Mogadishu focused on Phase One of CONOPS, which prioritizes sector realignment and reorientation of forces, deployment plans for the new mission and operational coordination between AUSSOM and Somali Security Forces (SSF).
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Senior Defence Advisor to the President, Ms. Jihan Abdullahi Hassan, said it was important to ensure that AUSSOM supports Somalia’s security transition and long-term stabilisation efforts.
“Planning for AUSSOM has to be centred on Somalia’s national security vision to ensure that the startup of AUSSOM is phased, sustainable, and based on lessons learnt from previous missions,” she said.
She highlighted the mission’s enhanced capabilities, including the integration of more force enablers and multipliers, the deployment of Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs) to enhance operational agility and closer coordination with Somali Security Forces (SSF).
“The deployment of dedicated Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs) at sector level is meant to be a game changer in how we respond to emerging threats. Once operational, this will significantly enhance Somalia’s security posture and create conditions for sustainable stabilisation,” Ms. Jihan explained.
The Force Commander for AUSSOM, Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma, appealed for sustained international support including predictable funding mechanisms to ensure that Somalia’s security transition is successful.
“Somalia’s peace, security, and stability are fundamental enablers for achieving its broader socioeconomic, and political development. Without them, progress is impossible. As we operationalize AUSSOM, we urge our partners to maintain their commitment to Somalia’s long-term security objectives,” Lt. Gen. Kavuma emphasised.
The other key outcomes of the meetings were the finalisation of sector boundaries and operational areas, agreement on military and police deployments, including repatriation plans, strategic adjustments to enhance force mobility and responsiveness and refining the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Troop and Police Contributing Countries to ensure a more structured contribution of forces.
