UK announces $6.6 million aid to support Somali national army through UN fund

The UK has pledged £5 million ($6.6 million) in aid to the Somali national army through the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Trust Fund, aimed at bolstering the country's security forces.

UNSOS said Monday that the aid will provide essential non-lethal support, including food rations and communications equipment, to enhance the Somali army's operational capabilities.

The assistance will help the Somali Security Forces conduct joint or coordinated operations with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as they take on greater responsibility for national security.

Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur emphasized the importance of the ongoing support, calling it “crucial for the development of our national security infrastructure and the future of Somalia.”

Since 2022, the UK has contributed over £28 million to UNSOS to support Somali Security Forces.

The aid announcement comes amid tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia's sea access deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which Somalia has denounced as a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia recently recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia in protest of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Türkiye has been mediating to ease tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations, though recent talks in the capital Ankara have yet to produce results.