Shifts in Global Dynamics and their Impact on the AU-UN Partnership: The Case of AUSSOM

04.09.2025

The adoption of Resolution 2719 by the UNSC in December 2023 was a groundbreaking step in AU-UN partnership that intended to provide more predictable and sustainable financing to AU-led peace operations. The authorization of AUSSOM’s deployment through Resolution 2767 had indicated the possibility of applying 2719 to fund the mission from July 2025. However, despite strong push from the AU and broad support from many Council members, the United States has voiced consistent opposition. As a result, on 12 May 2025, the UN Security Council failed to authorise AUSSOM’s funding under Resolution 2719, including the hybrid format proposed based on Resolution 2767. Without Resolution 2719 as a funding pathway, the AU, T/PCCs, Somalia, and the wider international community are vested with the responsibility to work on alternative financial mechanisms to address the acute financial crisis facing AUSSOM. The failure to implement the 2719 framework to AUSSOM and the political divisions it induced have raised uncertainties about the AU-UN Partnership model provided by the Resolution. With this background FES AU Cooperation Office and Amani Africa convened a high-level dialogue in Addis Ababa on 04 September 2025. Representatives of the AU, UN, diplomatic community and international organizations gathered to explore political and funding alternatives for AUSSOM and reflect on the broader impact of shifting donor dynamics and geopolitical realignments on AU-UN partnerships.

Outcomes of the conversations suggested that looking at the future of peace keeping, the AU has a greater role to play and UNSCR 2719 has come in a perfect time to reinforce this engagement. In the case of Somalia, the AU-UN Partnership though has not been felt strongly among some part of the population.

It has achieved its military objectives to a larger extent, and made impact on the ground which has been seen in the state building and expansion of governance though with little political dividends. In terms of financing, currently UNSOS has provided great support in ensuring that the new mission keeps running depicting an important aspect of the AU-UN partnership. The EU, the biggest donor of the previous missions, has also made a huge contribution by ensuring sustainability and more should be expected from other stakeholders and states who have not yet supported the missions. However, with the current change of financing schemes, funds have stopped coming in as States started taking more focus on their own internal matters.

In relation with Resolution 2719, implementation is not going in a way that was planned due to consistent resistance from United States. Nevertheless, the inability to finance the AUSSOM under Resolution 2719 should not be considered as a failure of the resolution and its purpose. AUSSOM is one case and Resolution 2719 is not a financial agreement but a framework and a means to strengthen political coherence and organizational priorities. It also provides the AU with another opportunity to reassert itself as a continental body dealing with issues of peace and security in the region. As such, more focus should be given into creating an enabling environment for the full implementation of the resolution. For this, in addition to the critical financing aspect, the UN and the AU have to reach a common understanding.

On the other hand, the financing of the missions, like the one in Somalia, has always had its political aspect. Therefore, it is important to note that such missions should be designed with a political strategy. Designing a PSO with only funding considerations will not put a successful mission in place. Creating a positive political vision on why the mission is important will provide a good chance for funding.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung African Union Cooperation

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