US could freeze Somalia anti-terror funding under new Senate bill: report  

WASHINGTON - The government of the US could halt funding meant for the fight against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, Fox News reports, in what could significantly affect logistics for the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

The US, reports suggest, is taking the measure until Europe, the African Union, and the United Nations pay more of their 'fair' share in the mission. These plans to "prohibit" the use of U.S. funds are key details, shown first to Fox News Digital, of a new bill to be introduced by three prominent Republican senators.

As part of Donald Trump policy to cut fiscal spending particularly in foreign countries, Senators Jim Risch, R-Idaho., Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., are to introduce "the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) Funding Restriction Act of 2025."

"This is to safeguard U.S. taxpayer funds and hold the U.N. and A.U. accountable in African peace operations," Risch told Fox News Digital. Once approved, the bill allows the US to oppose UN Security Council resolutions that require funding.

Somalia is fighting violent extremist groups, among them the al-Shabaab and ISIS militants, and depends on foreign aid for this mission. Recently, Trump lauded the US Africa Command for airstrikes in Puntland against ISIS and pledged more support.

But most of the coordination has been in southern regions where the US trains the elite Danab Special Forces, who are responsible for the fight against Al-Shabaab. The US Africa Command not only trains Somali forces but also equips and pays them stipends.

Chairman Risch told Fox News Digital, "The Trump Administration has taken decisive action to counterterrorist groups across Africa, and I’m very supportive."

However, officials from the European Union, according to Risch, plan to skew payments for the AUSSOM peacekeeping and stabilization operation more toward the U.S.; in other words, make the U.S. pay more than it should, he said.

"At the U.N., our European partners are looking to skirt their financial commitments to AUSSOM in Somalia by switching to a new imbalanced funding mechanism that pushes the burden on Americans," he stated.

"We can’t let that stand," Risch continued. "This bill will prohibit U.S. contributions to AUSSOM under this new funding scheme, until the A.U. and the U.N. can prove that they are using the funds they have responsibly, and prevent Americans from being locked into perpetually funding a broken system."

"President Trump has ushered in a new era of American foreign policy where American taxpayer dollars will be used only to secure a safe and prosperous America. For far too long, our allies have taken America for a ride and profited off of America paying the lion’s share for global security. Europe must continue to shoulder this burden," Risch said.

Scott told Fox News Digital, "The United States will not allow our tax dollars to be exploited by the U.N. while our partners refuse to pay their fair share, much less for a mission that fails to spend these dollars responsibly or transparently. I am proud to join my colleagues on the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act to ensure Americans’ interests are put first, and their tax dollars are spent wisely."

GAROWE ONLINE