Somalia says African Union forces will not leave abruptly, with their eventual withdrawal dependent on the readiness of Somali security forces to take full control.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — The African Union's peace support mission in Somalia will not make an abrupt exit from the country, with any eventual withdrawal dependent on the Somali government's readiness to assume full responsibility for national security, a senior presidential adviser said.
Aweys Haji Yusuf, national security adviser to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said the transition would be guided by a broader plan aimed at gradually transferring security responsibilities to Somali authorities.
"The AU mission will not simply leave the country," Yusuf said, referring to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
He said the pace of the transition would depend on Somalia's preparedness to take over security responsibilities and the progress made in strengthening its national forces.
The comments come as Somalia and its international partners seek to define a long-term security framework following years of reliance on African Union forces in the fight against the Al-Shabaab Islamist insurgency.
Yusuf said Somalia's broader transition process began in 2022 following a joint assessment by the Somali government and the United Nations examining the country's capacity to assume responsibilities previously carried out by UN institutions and missions.
The assessment concluded that Somalia should gradually take over a range of responsibilities, initially focusing on political affairs, the rule of law and justice before the eventual closure of the United Nations' special political mission in the country, he said.
According to Yusuf, the UN Security Council approved a transition plan in 2025 under which Somalia is expected to formally assume responsibilities carried out by the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) by October 31, 2026.
The shift is part of efforts to normalise Somalia's relationship with the United Nations after decades of special political and security arrangements linked to conflict and state fragility.
Yusuf said that once the transition is complete, Somalia's relationship with the United Nations would increasingly resemble that of other countries, such as neighbouring Kenya, rather than involving dedicated political missions and special UN structures.
However, he stressed that the government would continue working closely with UN agencies, particularly on issues including human rights and justice, as Somali institutions responsible for those sectors are strengthened.
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The security transition, meanwhile, remains closely tied to the capabilities of Somalia's armed forces and the country's ongoing military campaign against Al-Shabaab.
Yusuf said the government was committed to eventually assuming full responsibility for national security, but warned that no fixed timetable could override conditions on the ground.
If Somali forces are significantly strengthened and military operations against Al-Shabaab achieve greater success, the transfer of security responsibilities could be completed sooner than currently anticipated, he said.
But if security challenges persist or worsen, the transition could require additional time.
Somalia has been fighting Al-Shabaab for more than a decade, with the group continuing to launch deadly attacks against government forces, African Union troops and civilian targets despite major military offensives.
Yusuf said Somalia's strategy extended beyond military security, arguing that lasting stability depended on strengthening the justice system and expanding economic development.
"Security, justice and economic development are interconnected," he said, describing the three sectors as fundamental pillars for achieving long-term stability.
The government's transition strategy therefore seeks to strengthen state institutions across several sectors simultaneously, rather than treating the eventual handover of security responsibilities as a purely military process.
AUSSOM remains a key component of Somalia's security architecture, supporting Somali forces as they battle Al-Shabaab and work towards assuming greater control of the country's security.
Yusuf's comments underscore Mogadishu's position that the eventual departure of African Union forces will be determined by conditions on the ground and the readiness of Somali institutions, rather than an abrupt or predetermined withdrawal.
For Somalia, the challenge will be to build sufficiently capable security and civilian institutions to ensure that the gradual reduction of international missions does not create a security vacuum that armed groups could exploit.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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