The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has reaffirmed the bloc’s continued support for Somalia’s government and people during the second extraordinary summit of countries contributing troops to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), held in Kampala.

Youssouf said the African Union remained committed to supporting Somalia’s efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and development, while praising the federal government’s initiatives to stabilize the country.

He also commended the military personnel, police officers and civilian staff serving under AUSSOM, describing their sacrifices and work as critical to strengthening security and supporting Somalia’s state-building efforts.

The AU chief stressed the need to deepen cooperation with international partners to secure sustainable funding for AUSSOM, while ensuring that Somalia remains at the center of the peace, security and stabilization process.

Youssouf thanked the Ugandan government for hosting the summit and praised President Yoweri Museveni for his continued role in supporting peace and stability efforts in Somalia.

During the summit, Youssouf and Museveni also discussed regional security challenges, including developments in the Great Lakes region and South Sudan, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and efforts to promote peace and stability across Africa.

The Kampala meeting brought together leaders and representatives from AUSSOM troop-contributing countries to discuss the future of the mission, funding challenges and strategies to strengthen Somalia’s security institutions.