U.S. Ends Logistical Aid to AU Peacekeepers as al-Shabab Gains Strength in Somalia

The United States declared it will stop funding the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, the logistical backbone for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission, with the cut effective Dec. 31. Over the past twenty years, Washington has contributed roughly $3.6 billion to successive AU missions, yet al-Shabab has transformed from a guerrilla outfit into a shadow state that levies taxes and provides services in rural areas.

Analysts note that the insurgents have built their own courts and tax system, generating $100-150 million annually, while the Somali government collects just over $250 million, much of it from the capital’s port. The AU force, originally deployed from Uganda in 2007, has been marred by allegations of extrajudicial killings and other abuses, eroding local support. Recent incidents such as the 2024 Bulo-Mareer killings have intensified protests against foreign troops. With no other nation ready to replace U.S. assistance, the withdrawal could leave a security vacuum that al-Shabab is poised to fill.