May 02, 2025
An Ethiopian delegation led by Defense Minister Ayisha Mehamed Musa took part in the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), plus Somalia, held in Entebbe, Uganda, on Friday (April 25).
The meeting was chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda. The Summit was preceded by Ministerial and Senior Officials’ meetings held from April 22–24 in Kampala, which adopted several recommendations for the Summit’s consideration. The Summit proposed a way forward on Somalia’s security situation, AUSSOM’s exit plan, and funding issues.
The meeting was attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia, senior government representatives of the Troop Contributing Countries, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, and other officials and representatives from regional and international organizations.
In her statement, Defense Minister Ayisha commended the remarkable progress made by the Federal Government of Somalia in achieving political stability, inclusivity, and the fight against Al-Shabaab. She reiterated Ethiopia’s steadfast commitment to supporting Somalia’s efforts against Al-Shabaab.
At the Ministerial meeting preceding the Summit, Minister Ayisha highlighted the importance of securing adequate, sustainable, and predictable financing for the new mission and acknowledged the efforts made by the African Union and the United Nations in this regard. She also commended the TCCs, the AU, and partners for their continued contributions to peace, security, and stability in Somalia
The Troop Contributing Countries acknowledged Somalia’s progress in political and security sectors and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting its stabilization in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. The Summit endorsed proposals to enhance air assets and capabilities and to strengthen Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in a coordinated manner. It was agreed to increase bilateral troop contributions from TCCs and Somalia to address the current threat from Al-Shabaab. The role of both traditional and non-traditional partners in supporting AUSSOM and Somalia was also welcomed. The Summit concluded with the adoption of a communiqué reflecting the consensus reached between Somalia and the TCCs.
Ethiopia has remained a major troop-contributing country to African Union-led missions in Somalia since 2007. Alongside other TCCs, Ethiopia has made significant sacrifices to stabilize Somalia through AMISOM and ATMIS, and it continues its efforts through the current AUSSOM mission.