UN support for the African Union: USA apparently wants to block UN aid for the Somalia peace mission

The USA apparently wants the support of the United Nations (U.N.) for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia from next year. This emerged on Thursday (local time) from two documents available to the Reuters news agency. According to diplomats, the move is likely to mark the end of the nearly 12,000-soldier deployment, as the troops rely heavily on UN logistics such as food, fuel and medical supplies.

A spokesman for the United Nations said the decision was being discussed USA currently internal and am in contact with the AU and the Somali government.

The African Union Commission informed its members on Thursday about the planned US move and warned that it would have a significant impact on the financing and operational capability of the mission. Somali MP Ahmed Koshin said the decision would have huge consequences for his country.

USA accuses Somalia of internal power struggles

A US government letter dated July 1, seen by Reuters, said internal rivalries and political power struggles in the government were undermining the fight against al-Shabaab and the extremist militia IS. Although the US government has no objection to an extension of the mandate by the UN Security Council, it will oppose any extension that includes logistical or operational support from the UN.

A US State Department spokesman confirmed that the US was continuing the UN Support Office’s operations in Somalia (UNSOS) ‌will no longer be supported. The USA contributed almost two billion dollars to UNSOS and its predecessor missions. Despite these investments, Somalia was unable to independently maintain progress in the fight against extremists. The US government under President Donald Trump recently expressed frustration with the leadership in Somalia.

The peace mission supports the fragile government in Somalia in the fight against the extremists of the al-Qaeda-allied terrorist militia Al-Shabaab. This controls large parts of southern and central Somalia. The UN Support Office’s budget is around $500 million. ‌The AU mission itself had a budget of $190 million last year and is struggling with a massive funding gap.