MOGADISHU — The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has formally transferred the technical management of the Buurhakaba Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the Somali National Army’s 60th Division in the Bay region, marking another significant step in the progressive transfer of security responsibilities to Somali forces. The handover, which took place on August 8, 2026, with support from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), comes at a critical juncture as both the AU mission and the UN political presence in Somalia face imminent closure. The Buurhakaba FOB had been manned since 2014 by the Ethiopian National Defence Force contingent as part of AUSSOM Sector Three operations. The transfer aligns with the Somalia Transition Plan, which envisions the gradual handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces. The 60th Division has been actively involved in operations against Al-Shabaab in the Bay and Bakool regions. The handover comes as the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) is set to conclude its operations by October 31, 2026, following a formal request from the Federal Government of Somalia. The Somali government, through former Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi, wrote to the UN in May 2024 asking not to renew Resolution 2705 (2023), which had established the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). This request marked a significant shift toward Somali-led governance and the end of decades of direct UN political involvement in the country. UNTMIS succeeded UNSOM on November 1, 2024, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2753, with a two-year transition period scheduled to conclude by October 31, 2026. The “sunset clause” sets a definitive timeline for transferring technical and political advisory functions to Somali national institutions and the UN Country Team. The dissolution of UNSOM has been described as a major diplomatic win for … Continue reading AUSSOM Handover in Buurhakaba Signals Progress Amid Looming Mission Closure