MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United Nations has issued a stark warning that the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is on the brink of collapse due to an alarming 15-month delay in troop salary payments. The crisis threatens to reverse critical security gains made against the militant group Al-Shabaab and destabilize not only Somalia but the broader Horn of Africa region.
Speaking during a high-level international conference in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the dire situation and appealed urgently for financial support to sustain the mission.
“ATMIS troops have been on the front lines of the fight against Al-Shabaab for over 15 months without receiving a single paycheck. This is unacceptable and unsustainable,” Guterres said. “We risk losing everything we have gained if we do not act swiftly.”
ATMIS, which replaced the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in April 2022, was established to help Somalia take over responsibility for its own security by the end of 2024. It has been instrumental in supporting Somali security forces in regaining control of territory from Al-Shabaab and building institutional capacity.
However, the lack of funding has now placed the mission in jeopardy.
According to officials at the conference, which included representatives from the United Nations, African Union, Federal Government of Somalia, and several donor countries such as the United Kingdom, there is growing concern that a collapse of ATMIS could enable Al-Shabaab to regain territory and influence.
“Without immediate financial assistance, there is a serious risk that extremist groups will recapture key strategic areas, threatening the fragile stability not only of Somalia but of the entire region,” a UN report warned.
Despite the urgency, the New York conference concluded without securing any firm financial commitments from international donors. Secretary-General Guterres expressed frustration over the lack of progress, calling the outcome “a dangerous delay” that could have long-term consequences.
“We are facing a funding gap that is not just a budgetary issue — it is a security emergency. If we do not respond now, we may face a far greater crisis down the line,” he warned.
Somali officials and African Union representatives echoed Guterres’ concerns, stating that troops cannot continue to carry out offensive operations or hold liberated areas without basic financial support.
“Our soldiers have fought bravely and made enormous sacrifices. But they cannot continue this fight without being paid,” said a representative from the Somali Ministry of Defense.
The African Union and the United Nations have jointly called for an immediate injection of funds to sustain the mission and avoid a security vacuum in areas reclaimed from Al-Shabaab.
International stakeholders are being urged to act swiftly to prevent a full-scale collapse of ATMIS, which could reverse nearly two decades of progress in Somalia’s stabilization efforts.
