The United States has agreed to give the United Nations another year to wind down its support for African Union peacekeepers in Somalia, easing fears of an abrupt funding cutoff while leaving the future of the mission uncertain, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.


Washington said in a diplomatic note shared with embassies last week that it was willing to support a 12-month drawdown of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), followed immediately by its liquidation.


“The United States is willing to support a 12-month drawdown followed immediately by liquidation,” the note said.


The additional year means UN support will not end immediately when the current UNSOS mandate expires at the end of December. Two diplomatic sources and a Somali government source told Reuters that the 12-month drawdown period would begin in January.


UNSOS provides essential logistical support to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), including food, water, fuel, medical services and troop transportation.


The development follows a decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to reduce US support for international commitments.


Reuters reported in July that Washington, frustrated with what it viewed as a fragile administration in Mogadishu, planned to block UN support for the African Union force, which supports the Somali government in its fight against al-Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked militant group.


In a diplomatic note sent to the African Union in July, Washington said it would use its influence to prevent the UN from continuing to support AUSSOM from the beginning of 2027.


A US State Department spokesperson told Reuters that Washington would no longer fund or support UNSOS, whose annual budget is approximately $500 million.


Washington had also previously blocked a proposal to cover 75% of AUSSOM’s budget through UN funding, an amount estimated at about $190 million annually.


AUSSOM troops depend heavily on UN logistical assistance to maintain their operations, particularly for supplies such as fuel, food, water and medical equipment, as well as transportation.


Experts cited by Reuters have warned that a reduction in international logistical support could weaken the peacekeeping force and increase the threat posed by al-Shabaab, potentially contributing to further instability in Somalia.


By Sabina Mammadli