On December 27, 2024, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution to deploy a new African Union (AU) mission in Somalia, which will replace a larger counter-terrorism operation starting January 1, 2025.
The new force will be known as the African Union Mission in Support of Stability in Somalia. External resources have supported Somalia's security since Ethiopia's invasion in 2006, which ousted an Islamist-led administration and triggered a rebellion resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
Sources indicated in June that the European Union and the United States, the largest funders of the AU forces in Somalia, sought to reduce the number of peacekeeping troops due to concerns over funding and long-term sustainability. Negotiations regarding the new force were reported to be complex.
The United States abstained from voting in the Security Council due to funding concerns, while the remaining 14 member states voted in favor of the resolution.