General Muhozi Kainerugaba, Chief of the Ugandan Defence Forces, has issued an urgent appeal for regional military leaders to exhibit exceptional unity, creative problem-solving, and steadfast resolve. Speaking to defense chiefs in Kampala, he highlighted the vital need to protect the future of peace and stability in Somalia as the regional mission shifts toward an independent, African-led logistical model amid severe financial hurdles.
At the opening of an extraordinary summit of troop-contributing countries held at the Speke Munyonyo resort, General Kainerugaba stressed the necessity of adjusting to tight financial budgets. He noted that these testing conditions call for genuine dedication to sustained support, pointing out that the ultimate survival of the mission, past troops’ sacrifices, and Somali progress hinge on decisive leadership choices made right now.
This call to action comes as the United Nations Support Mission in Somalia (UNSOS) gears up to conclude operations by December 31, 2026. This follows a clear stance taken by the United States in July 2026 declining to renew the mandate if it includes traditional UN operational or logistical backing.
Because the peacekeeping mission depends heavily on this external logistical foundation, the impending cutoff presents a major threat to its continuity. Consequently, Kampala is hosting high-level talks to weigh alternative measures, including regional teamwork and structured withdrawal strategies.
During ministerial and technical discussions, regional officials weighed three core paths forward, which include maintaining the status quo by advocating for renewed diplomatic efforts to sustain core support systems. Another option is a regional cooperation framework focused on moving toward decentralized cooperative models combined with focused bilateral deployments.
The final option involves an orderly withdrawal outlining a phased transition plan to safely transfer remaining security duties to Somali forces.
The military leaders stressed the vital importance of building robust contingency plans to brace for the potential absence of international logistics after December, while concurrently crafting alternative security strategies to safeguard Somalia’s hard-earned peace.
