Somali defense minister says army can resist al-Shabab if AUSSOM withdraws

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said Sunday that Somali forces are capable of resisting al-Shabab even if African Union forces withdraw from the country.

Speaking in Mogadishu, Fiqi said government forces and the Somali public are jointly confronting al-Shabab and would continue the fight regardless of whether the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia remains in the country.

The minister also criticized unnamed politicians, accusing them of portraying Somalia to the international community as a collapsing state with poor security and at risk of being taken over by al-Shabab.

He said such rhetoric ignores progress made by Somali forces and undermines public confidence in national institutions.

Fiqi’s remarks come as uncertainty continues over the future of AUSSOM and the funding mechanism for United Nations logistical support to African Union forces in Somalia.

The United States recently agreed to give the United Nations another year to wind down its support for African peacekeepers in Somalia, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The move gives the AU mission more time than previously feared but leaves its long-term future uncertain.

AUSSOM relies heavily on U.N. support for essential logistics, including food, water, fuel, medical services and troop transportation.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has pulled back from several international commitments, had told the African Union in a diplomatic note in July that it would use its influence to prevent U.N. support for the peacekeepers from continuing at the start of next year.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, continues to carry out attacks in Somalia despite ongoing military operations by Somali forces and international partners.