The severe funding crisis facing the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has raised deep concerns within the United Nations and the international community, amid serious warnings that this financial shortfall could lead to a reversal of the hard-won security gains in the fight against terrorism, specifically against the extremist Al-Shabaab movement.
Background of the mission and the transition from "AMISOM" to "ATMES"
To understand the depth of the current crisis, one must consider the historical context of the African presence in Somalia. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) replaced the previous African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on April 1, 2022, with a new mandate focused primarily on preparing Somali security forces to assume full security responsibilities in the country by the end of 2024. This shift came in response to UN Security Council resolutions aimed at enabling Somalia to gradually restore its security sovereignty.
Despite the battlefield successes achieved by African forces in collaboration with the Somali army in liberating several strategic areas from al-Shabaab control, the phased withdrawal and handover plan faces significant logistical and financial obstacles. International support, which has relied heavily on contributions from the European Union and other international partners, has been noticeably reduced recently, presenting the mission with difficult operational challenges.
The risks of a security vacuum and the resurgence of "youth" activity
The main danger of underfunding lies in the potential for an ill-conceived or premature withdrawal of African forces before Somali forces are fully prepared to fill the void. Security experts and UN officials warn that any security vacuum would be a boon to al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked group that still retains the fighting capabilities to launch deadly attacks and occupy remote areas.
The budget deficit not only affects soldiers’ salaries, but also extends to logistical support, equipment maintenance, and the ability to carry out preemptive operations, which weakens troop morale and reduces the effectiveness of military pressure on terrorist groups.
The regional and international importance of stability in Somalia
The repercussions of this issue are not confined to Somalia's borders, but extend to the entire Horn of Africa region. Somalia's stability is a cornerstone of security for neighboring countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, which contribute troops to the mission and are directly affected by any security lapses across their borders. Furthermore, Somalia's geographical location on the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean is of strategic importance to global trade, making the fight against terrorism and piracy in this region a paramount international interest.
In conclusion, current international calls emphasize the need to bridge the funding gap to ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of security responsibilities, warning that abandoning support for "Atmis" at this critical time could return Somalia to square one of chaos and instability.
