The additional UK assistance will help the Somali Security Forces obtain and transport crucial materials including as food rations, communication equipment, and tents. It will also fund medical evacuations and capacity-building activities to ensure the forces’ long-term viability and operational effectiveness.
Notably, a portion of the cash will be used to equip Somali troops with Very High Frequency (VHF) communication devices and teach them to maintain and install them. This expenditure is intended to improve interoperability, communication, and coordinated operations against al-Shabaab.
Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, the Head of UNSOS, thanked the UK for its consistent assistance, noting, “Over the years, the UK has been the primary donor to the Trust Fund in support of SSF. This most recent gift demonstrates their continuous commitment to improving logistical assistance and capacity building for Somalia’s courageous men and women.”
UNSOS now assists 14,900 Somali National Army and 1,000 Somali Police Force soldiers in combined or coordinated operations with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Efforts are underway to expand this assistance to 18,900 staff, and recent UK money will help to improve personnel training.
The UK’s commitment to creating a safe and stable Somalia is evidenced by its large voluntary donations to UNSOS, which have totaled more than £20 million since 2022. This includes a £5 million donation in January 2024 and another £5 million in December 2023.
As the ATMIS drawdown continues, voluntary donations from member states to the UNSOS Trust Fund will be critical in assisting the Somali Security Forces in assuming further security duties.