The situation in Somalia - Security Council, 10078th meeting Security Council Date: 23 December 2025 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10078 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- UNSC · President [0:02]: The 10078th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is the situation in Somalia. The agenda is adopted. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2016/266, 2025/828, the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. Will those in favour of the draft resolution, contained in document S/2025/828, 2025 please raise their hand. The result of the vote is as follows. The draft resolution received 15 votes in favor. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 28/09 of 2025. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:46]: Thank you, President. The United Kingdom welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution. which authorizes the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission to continue its essential role in strengthening stability and security in Somalia with the support of the United Nations through UNSOS. We thank all Council members for their constructive approach to the negotiations on this text. Today's adoption follows the recent extension of the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime. Taken together, These decisions demonstrate the Council's continued determination to support Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab. The resolution we have adopted today is clear-eyed about the challenges of the underfunding of AUSSOM and UNSOSS's liquidity shortfall. This mandate therefore creates a process to enable an informed review of the logistical support provided by the UN. We look forward to working closely with Council members on this in June. Somalia has made enormous progress since the Security Council first authorized the deployment of AMISOM in 2007. To ensure its support to Somalia remains targeted and effective, the Council's decision-making must continue to be informed by a comprehensive understanding of the national context into which AUSSOM is deployed. Finally, I pay tribute to the brave personnel of AUSSOM and its predecessors who paid the ultimate price in support of these missions, alongside the many Somali forces and civilians who have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism in Somalia. Thank you. UNSC · President [3:29]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone · A3+ [3:36]: Thank you, Madam President. I have the honour to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Somalia and my own country, Sierra Leone. Throughout the process, the A3+ guided by the principle of reflecting the views of the concerned country, engaged constructively and in good faith, advocating the priorities of Somalia. clearly articulating our concerns while remaining fully committed to meaningful dialogue with all concerned members. Regrettably, some of our core concerns were not reflected in the text. The financing of OSOM has not been an essential issue throughout the negotiations, despite being the core concern. That being said, the A3+ voted in favor of resolution 2809 In the spirit of compromise and in recognition of the need to have Council authorization as the basis for continued support for UNSOM by international donors, we express our gratitude for the Council's continued attention and support for UNSOM. We honor the sacrifices made by the troop contributing countries and the Somali National Army over the past two decades and underscore the imperative to preserve the hard-earned security gains and sacrifices made by the Federal Government of Somalia and AU troop contributing countries. We reiterate our call for predictable, sustainable, and adequate funding for UNSOM and Somali National Forces at this critical juncture. The chronic underfunding of UNSOM severely impedes its objective and risks reversing the progress achieved. Undermining the security gains over the years would have their implications for Somalia and the region. In conclusion, the A3+ expresses appreciation to all partners supporting Somalia's security and its path towards sustainable peace and development. We reaffirm our commitment to Somalia's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and political independence. I thank you. UNSC · President [5:58]: I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for the statement. And I give the floor to the representative of China. China [6:07]: Madam President, the Security Council has just adopted Resolution 2809 by consensus, extending the mandate of OSOM. As a longstanding supporter of OSOM's mandate fulfilment, China voted in favour of the resolution. We commend the pen holder for its efforts in facilitating consensus among Council members. We commend all parties for their contributions to this. Recent years have witnessed progress in Somalia's counterterrorism efforts. China applauds the endeavors by the EU, regional countries, and Somalia. At the same time, the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab remains a significant threat. The resolution just adopted authorizes AUSSOM to continue with its critical missions, including combating al-Shabaab and protecting civilians. The international community should seize this opportunity to jointly assist Somalia in consolidating its counterterrorism gains and achieving lasting peace. At present, the funding gap facing AUSSOM is unsustainable, and the liquidity shortfall confronting UNSOS merits our concern. China calls on international partners, particularly traditional donors, to honor their funding commitments and to move expeditiously to alleviate OSOM's urgent financial strain. We also urge the member states concerned to pay their assessed peacekeeping contributions to OSOM in full and on time, thereby effectively fulfilling their responsibilities. We also look forward to the Secretary General presenting practical proposals on adjusting support for OSOM and bridging the funding gap. The resolution states clearly that the mandate of the UNMISS will come to an end on 31st of October 2026, marking an important milestone in Somalia's development. We call on UNMISS to ensure a smooth second phase of the transition and the timely conclusion of its mandate. The report to be submitted by the Secretary-General should focus on OSOM's implementation of its mandate, providing the Council with the necessary reference for future decision making. Madam President, as the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, China shoulders nearly one quarter of the UNSOM's budget and has made significant contributions to the logistical support of UNSOM. Over the years, China has provided substantial development and humanitarian assistance to Somalia through bilateral channels. As Somalia's good friend, China stands ready to continue stepping up its efforts in helping Somalia achieve peace, stability, and prosperity. I thank you, Madam President. UNSC · President [8:43]: I thank the representative of China for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of the United States. United States of America [8:52]: Thank you, Madam President. We thank the UK for its leadership on this mandate renewal. The AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, and the UN Support Office in Somalia, or UNSOM, continue to serve a vital role in sustaining and winning the fight against al-Shabaab and ISIS. I would like to take a moment to thank the troop and police contributing countries of AU-SOM for their service and their sacrifice. We recognize the 8,000 AU troops who have been killed or injured in the line of duty over the last 18 years, as well as the many Somali troops and civilians killed and injured. The United States has contributed nearly $1.6 billion to support troop contributing countries for AMISOM and its successor missions. This is in addition to nearly $2 billion we have provided in assessed contributions to UNSOS and its predecessor. We have also provided substantial bilateral assistance, including hundreds of millions of dollars of support to the Somali security forces, plus billions in humanitarian relief and development assistance. Despite the sacrifices of the troops and police and the long-term support from the United States and other partners and allies, sustained progress against the terrorism threat in the region and towards the essential transfer of most security functions to Somalia has been elusive. Ongoing efforts must ensure the responsibility for combating al-Shabaab, ISIS, and other terrorism threats shifts primarily to those who have the most at stake. It is also important that UNSAS and AUSSOM build on efforts to optimize resources, identify clear performance benchmarks, implement efficiencies, and identify a credible roadmap for realizing mandate objectives and ultimately sunsetting the mission. Further, we urge the Federal Government of Somalia, all Member States, and all clans to come together to address the country's security and governance challenges. In the coming months, we look forward to robust and realistic assessments that outline next steps for a responsible AU-SOM drawdown and for accelerating Somalia's progress to take on more responsibility for its own security. Lastly, we would like to express the United States' continued frustration with Council members using the mandate renewal process to push distracting and divisive language, including on gender. Thank you. UNSC · President [11:32]: I thank the representative of the United States for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of France. France [11:42]: Thank you, Madam President. France would like to thank the United Kingdom for presenting this draft resolution and for its efforts to achieve the adoption of this text unanimously among the members of the Council. This adoption demonstrates the Council's support for the African Union's efforts in Somalia. With its vote in favour, France reaffirms its confidence in and support for the African Union Mission, to the troop contributing countries and to UN agencies in their efforts, alongside the Somali Federal Government, to bring peace and stability and to dismantle the terrorist groups present in Somalia. Madam President, for the AUSSOM mission to be able to fully implement its mandate, it is urgent for the international community to come together to give it the resources that it needs. France, alongside the European Union and its member states, remains mobilized for security in Somalia via Interalia, the CSDP, EUTM Somalia mission, Operation Atalanta and Operation Aspidess. The EU shoulders the larger part of support for Somalia, with 4.3 billion euros committed to Somalia since 2009. It is more urgent than ever for new donors to also mobilize for the sake of security in Somalia. Only a joint and coordinated response of all of Somalia's partners will allow us to curb the terrorist threat. The full implementation of the AUSSOM mandate will also depend on the United Nations' ability to provide the necessary logistical support through its support office in Somalia, UNSOS. In that regard, France calls upon all Member States to pay their mandatory contributions on time and in full to allow UNSOS to fulfil its mission. Madam President, I would finally like to thank all of the members of the Council for their constructive engagement in this negotiation. This resolution allows us to reiterate our collective support for the OSOM mission, which is working alongside Somali forces. It will also make it possible thanks to the reports, including on the political security situation in Somalia, to inform future decisions of this Council on the future of the international presence in Somalia. These decisions will be taken in full cooperation with the host state and with the shared aspiration for a peaceful, secure, sovereign Somalia that is able to ensure its own security by itself. Thank you. UNSC · President [14:03]: I thank the representative of France for the statement. And I give the floor to the representative of Denmark. Denmark [14:08]: Thank you, Madam President. Denmark voted in favour of the resolution we just adopted. We did so because we believe the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, with the continued logistical support of UNSOS, plays a crucial role in supporting Somalia's fight against Al-Shabaab and in strengthening stabilisation efforts. Despite considerable progress over the last decade, the situation remains fragile and requires our continued attention. This resolution ensures continued support to AUSSOM and UNSOS. AUSSOM and UNSOS play an important role in advancing peace while reforms are implemented and capacities built in Somalia. Further progress must be made at the national level in order for Somalia to assume full responsibility for its security. With today's adoption, the Council has also decided to close the Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia by 31 October 2026. We encourage the Federal Government of Somalia and the UN to continue their cooperation during the second phase of the transition to ensure a successful handover of responsibilities. As the security challenges faced by Somalia are unlikely to be resolved in the short term, Denmark underlines the importance of keeping the Council informed on all aspects of the situation in Somalia, including related to OSOM and UNSOS, as well as on the transition of UNMIS until its closure. Denmark remains firmly committed to working with Somalia, the United Nations, the African Union and Council members in support of peace and stability in Somalia. We take this opportunity to thank the United Kingdom for their tireless efforts as a penholder. I thank you. UNSC · President [15:53]: I thank the representative of Denmark and I give the floor to the representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [15:59]: Thank you, Madam President. Pakistan has voted in favour of the resolution and expresses its sincere appreciation to the United Kingdom as penholder for facilitating the consensus adoption of the resolution. Somalia is a brotherly country to Pakistan, and we reaffirm our steadfast support for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The mandate renewal of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia is critical in supporting Somalia's fight against Al-Shabaab and in consolidating the progress made towards achieving lasting peace and stability. As highlighted in the latest reports of the Secretary-General and the Panel of Experts, Al-Shabaab and its affiliates continue to pose a significant threat to peace and security in Somalia. While commending the recent successes achieved by Somali forces against Al-Shabaab with the support of the African Union-United Nations Missions, we must continue to offer our full support to sustain and build upon those gains. We believe that AUSSOM, operating under the principles of national ownership and in full respect for national sovereignty, will play a critical role in supporting Somalia's goal of independently conducting security operations in the future. In this context, Pakistan firmly believes that sustainable and predictable financing for AUSSOM remains vital to preserving the hard-won gains against al-Shabaab. In closing, Madam President, we pay tribute to the sacrifices of Somali forces and AU/UN missions over the years. As we move into 2026, Pakistan will continue to engage constructively with Member States to support Somalia's journey towards peace and prosperity. I thank you. UNSC · President [17:46]: I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement, and I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [17:54]: Madam President, the Russian Federation supported the draft resolution of the Security Council relating to the activities of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. We are convinced that the presence of AU peacekeepers in Somalia continues to be necessary. They are conscientiously doing their duty, holding back the activities of extremists in the Horn of Africa and defending the civilian population from the threat stemming from al-Shabaab. We thank the leadership and the peacekeepers of OSOM for their service, and we pay tribute to those that laid down their lives for the sake of stabilizing the situation in Somalia. During work on the draft resolution, we made every effort to achieve the necessary resourcing of OSOM in the difficult circumstances of the current UN liquidity crisis. Most importantly, the UN Support Office in Somalia will continue its important work to provide logistical and other assistance to AU peacekeepers. We share the position of the A3+ that the focus of the resolution should continue to be the security issue and support for OSOM. Focusing on domestic political issues in Somalia and the activities of the UN Transition Assistance Mission in the country and the relevant reports of the UN Secretary-General are secondary in nature, and they are not a mandatory precondition for the Security Council to authorize the work of African peacekeepers in Somalia. Resolution 2748 that was adopted in August to extend the mandate of the AU Transition Mission in the country is a clear confirmation of this. We are of the view that the imperative is to take into account the opinion of regional countries, first and foremost Somalia, which have all of the necessary information about the situation on the ground. Against this backdrop, we fail to understand the attempts by some delegations to defend the expansion of the UN Secretary-General's reporting on Somalia and to tie OSOM's activities to the work of the UN Transition Assistance Mission in the country. and to use references to the amount of financing that they have provided in doing so. We are of the view that voluntary financial assistance is provided without expectation of compensation and cannot be tied to political requirements. Russia, in turn, is ready to closely cooperate with African delegations in the Security Council and at other platforms on the basis of equality and mutual respect. In Cairo, the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum just concluded. For the first time, the foreign ministers' meeting took place on the African continent, which confirms our stance on friendly and mutually beneficial relations and also the existence of common goals with our African partners. Russia and Africa natural allies in the work of democratizing international relations based on the principles of the UN Charter in full, in their entirety, and interconnectedly. Thank you. UNSC · President [20:58]: I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.