CDF Gen Kainerugaba Calls For African Unity And Resolve To Sustain Somalia Peace Mission

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has called on regional military leaders to demonstrate unity, creativity, and steadfast resolve to safeguard the future of peacekeeping operations in Somalia as the mission transitions toward sustainable, African-led logistical frameworks.

Speaking at the opening of the Extraordinary Meeting of Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDF) from Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Gen. Kainerugaba urged military commanders to adapt to tightening financial constraints.

“These are difficult circumstances, but they also call for our unity, creativity, and resolve,” Gen. Kainerugaba noted. “The future of our mission, and the sacrifice and progress we have all made together in Somalia, depend on the quality of the decisions we make at moments like this.”

The call to bolster the mission comes as the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) prepares to wrap up operations by December 31, 2026, presenting an opportunity for troop-contributing countries to accelerate efforts toward autonomous logistical arrangements.

The Ugandan CDF noted that funding reductions are already being felt on the front lines, prompting forces to reorganize their operational priorities in the field. He also pointed to shifting international diplomatic dynamics, including indications that the United States would not support the renewal of the AUSSOM mandate under the current UN support framework.

Against this backdrop, Gen. Kainerugaba emphasized the need for troop-contributing countries to fast-track African-led alternative arrangements that would sustain the mission beyond December 2026. He stressed that the responsibility now rests squarely with African nations to ensure the continuity of the gains made in Somalia.

The military chiefs’ technical deliberations in Kampala form the first step of a three-day strategic process. The outcomes will feed into a comprehensive CDF report to be presented to Defence Ministers on July 30, which will ultimately guide regional Heads of State during the 15th Extraordinary Summit on July 31.

“As Chiefs of Defence Forces, we are responsible for providing clear military guidance and strategic direction at a time when the mission environment is changing,” Gen. Kainerugaba stated. “It is therefore important that we approach these discussions with frankness, openness, and a shared sense of purpose.”

In a brief security update, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, expressed appreciation for the substantial role played by African peacekeeping missions in stabilizing the country.

The troop-contributing countries to AUSSOM; Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Kenya, with Somalia as the host nation are represented at the ongoing three-day summit that concludes on July 31.

Echoing Gen. Kainerugaba’s sentiments, the Head of the African Union’s Peace Support Operations Division, Brigadier General Cheick Dembele, noted that sustained African solidarity remains essential in supporting Somalia’s journey towards lasting peace and stability.

He added that the African Union has remained committed to the mission despite challenges and emphasized that efforts to strengthen Somalia’s security institutions require continued collective support.