Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, officials from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, and Egypt stressed the need to bolster military operations and stabilize the fragile security landscape.

Ugandan Defense Minister Jacob Oboth emphasized the risk of losing hard-won progress without swift action. “The growing threat posed by al-Shabaab demands increased troop deployment and reinforced stabilization efforts,” he said, according to a statement from his office. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi echoed the call for urgent support, advocating enhanced quick reaction forces and a multisector offensive to retake areas recently seized by the militants. “Peace in Somalia means stability for the entire Horn of Africa,” Fiqi said.

The appeals mark a stark reversal from 2019, when the UN Security Council authorized troop reductions as Somali forces gradually assumed security responsibilities. Uganda and Burundi withdrew contingents at the time, but worsening violence has since prompted Uganda to announce renewed deployments this year. Egypt also expressed interest in contributing troops, signaling regional concern over al-Shabaab’s resurgence.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted chronic funding shortfalls, citing UN Resolution 2719’s call for predictable financing for African-led peace operations. The AU seeks $190 million for 2025 a fraction of the $7 billion annual cost once imposed by Somali maritime piracy. “Global peace is a shared responsibility,” Youssouf said, underscoring the disparity between needs and international support.

Kenyan Defense Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya attributed funding challenges to donor fatigue, urging unified action. “Somalia’s stability is integral to regional and global security,” she said, noting that protracted underfunding risks exacerbating humanitarian and security crises.

The Kampala meeting reflects mounting anxiety over Somalia’s trajectory after decades of conflict. While AU forces have degraded al-Shabaab since 2007, persistent fiscal and logistical constraints hinder sustained momentum. Observers warn that without rapid reinforcements, militant advances could further destabilize a region already strained by climate shocks, displacement, and geopolitical rivalries.

As the May 2024 deadline for the AU transition looms, the calls for support underscore a pivotal juncture. Success hinges not only on military resolve but on bridging the gap between diplomatic pledges and tangible commitments a test of whether Somalia’s fragile peace can outlast the cycles of crisis that have long defined its history.