Washington said its decision was due the government’s lack of progress in containing the al-Shabaab group or in taking ownership of its own security.

Its withdrawal would require the African Union and troop-contributing countries to secure alternative funding and support arrangements if the mission continues beyond 2026.

In a diplomatic note to the African Union seen by Reuters, the US has vowed to block any spending of UN funds on the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).