African Union urges nearly Sh1.2b for its Somali force

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud leads a demonstration at Banadir stadium, Mogadishu, on Thursday January 12, 2023. The government rally encouraged an uprising against the al-Shabab group amid a month-long military offensive. [Farah Abdi Warsameh, AP]

The African Union appealed for nearly $90 million (Sh1.2 billion) Wednesday for its peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is providing support to its military forces battling al-Shabab extremists.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, told two reporters that the more than 19,600-strong AU force won't be able to function properly and help the Somalis unless that funding gap is filled.