Years of relative peace in central and rural Somalia have come to a sudden end as Al-Shabaab engages in a major offensive that has seen a number of highly publicized incidents over the past few weeks. The latest of these include encircling the capital, Mogadishu, and an attack on the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The capital’s Aden Abdulle International Airport and nearby residential neighborhoods have also been the subject of attacks by the fundamentalist group.
The growing frequency of Al-Shabaab’s attacks is part of what appears to be a coordinated effort to topple the Somali government, in contrast to past incidents, which were often construed as random. The direct attack on Hassan Sheikh is the first of its kind since the President took office for his second term in 2017.
Al-Shabaab’s campaign has spurred a new wave of military cooperation, with Mogadishu able to mobilize alliances with the US, Turkiye, Ethiopia, and others in a bid to fend off the terrorist group’s advances.
Following a rapprochement with Somalia after a full year of tensions, Addis Ababa has re-established itself a key partner in the fight against Al-Shabaab, particularly through the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab also appears to be gaining momentum in light of burgeoning alliances with fundamentalists across the Red Sea, such as the Houthis and IS.
AUSSOM, which replaced ATMIS in January as part of a UN Security Council resolution, operates under a new Concept of Operations (CONOPS) adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC).
The office running the peacekeeping mission recently issued a statement condemning the indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians in Somalia, asserting that “Al-Shabaab’s blatant disregard for human life and expose the group’s desperation in the face of relentless pressure from Somali security forces and international partners.”
“We stand firmly in solidarity with the government and people of Somalia in their pursuit of lasting peace and security,” said Sivuyile Bam, deputy special representative of the African Union Commission and acting head of AUSSOM.
Peacekeepers have joined forces with the Somali Police Force (SPF) to conduct regular joint patrols in Mogadishu, enhancing safety and security during the holy month of Ramadan. The partnership is responsible for extensive stop-and-search operations taking place in the Somali capital, with checkpoints set up across Mogadishu’s neighborhoods, including the city center and suburbs such as Warta Nabada and Kaaraan.
The security measures are just one part of AUSSOM’s mandate. The peacekeeping mission, which comprises military, police and civilian components, is also charged with a focus on state-building priorities, aiming to transfer full security responsibilities to Somali security forces by December 2029.
AUSSOM is expected to deploy a more agile and mobile force to support Somali security forces in their efforts to degrade Al-Shabaab and affiliates linked to ISIL/Daesh, promoting stability in Somalia. The new mission is aligned to the Somalia Security Development Plan (SSDP) and National Security Architecture (NSA), according to reports.
The UNSC mandates the AU to deploy 11,826 uniformed personnel, including 680 police personnel, until 31 December 2025, and has endorsed the AUPSC decision to draw down 800 uniformed personnel by the end of December 2025.
The AU is charged with establishing a clear command and control structure for AUSSOM. Meanwhile, the Somali government will prioritize implementation of the Somalia Security Development Plan (SSDP) and growing the country’s security infrastructure, with an aim to foster accountable, affordable, self-sustaining and capable security forces.
These forces are expected to take full control of Somalia’s security by 2029, with the transition process scheduled to take place in four phases. The first of these is the realignment and deployment of troops alongside a transfer of locations to Somali security forces. The second phase consists of offensive operations, while the third and fourth are geared towards drawdown and transition.
Almost 13,000 troops from various AU member states will be part of AUSSOM until the end of the first phase in June 2025. The AU is expected to deploy more than 11,000 troops for phase two, which will last until the end of 2025.
The Concept of Operations (CONOPs) envisages the transition and drawdown of the mission toward a final exit in December 2029. The drawdowns will consider Somalia’s prevailing security situation, guided by regular joint technical assessments, according to reports.
AUSSOM troops have the mandate to support Somali security forces in degrading Al-Shabaab and affiliates linked to ISIL/Daesh, by disrupting their movement and restricting access to illicit finance. Peacekeepers are also expected to provide coordination and tactical assistance, as well as training for Somali security forces.
The AUSSOM force is charged with protecting AU and UN personnel, installations and assets, as well as critical locations such as government offices and facilities.
The AUSSOM police component comprises over 1,000 personnel drawn from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. The number of personnel is expected to drop to 680 by July 2025.
Lieutenant Bashir Hussein, SPF liaison officer for Banadir Regional Police, says a close working relationship with AUSSOM has significantly improved the city’s security.
“Because it’s the blessed month of Ramadan, there are a lot of security threats, and that’s why we are increasing police presence in the city. We want to demonstrate the close working relationship we have with our international partners,” said Lieutenant Bashir, whose unit oversees mobile checkpoint operations in Mogadishu.
This week, the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the AUC and the Somali government alongside representatives from AUSSOM participants concluded a four-day workshop that has finalized the composition and deployment plans for the peacekeeping mission.
The workshop was a follow-on session from the Somalia Operations Coordination Committee (SOCC) meeting which took place in February 2025 in Addis Ababa, with chiefs of defense forces and senior security officers in attendance.
“One of the key deliverables of this meeting is the finalization of the Statement of Unit Requirements (SUR), which details the specific troop and police capabilities required for AUSSOM to effectively execute its mandate,” said the head of the AUC delegation, Brig. Gen. Billy Atwoki Winter.
The agreed SUR provides a detailed force composition, outlining the operational and logistical capability requirements for AUSSOM’s military and police contingents.
It includes quick reaction forces (QRFs), tactical battle groups (TBGs), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, aviation enablers, and police components, elements designed to enhance AUSSOM’s operational effectiveness in countering Al-Shabaab and stabilizing Somalia.
The meeting in Mogadishu focused on the first phase of CONOPs, which prioritizes sector realignment and reorientation of forces, deployment plans for the new mission and operational coordination.
“Planning for AUSSOM has to be centered on Somalia’s national security vision to ensure that the startup of AUSSOM is phased, sustainable, and based on lessons learnt from previous missions,” said Jihan Abdullahi Hassan, senior defense advisor to Hassan Sheikh.