In a strategic shift, the Somali government has approved the deployment of Egyptian forces as part of the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), following a security agreement signed in August. This move is seen as an effort to replace Ethiopian troops currently involved in the mission.
Egypt has already sent advance teams to assist the Somali National Army (SNA) in securing critical supply routes frequently targeted by Al-Shabaab. The first official Egyptian contingent is expected to arrive soon, following a summit between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Eritrean leader Isaias Afwerki.
Somalia’s decision to exclude Ethiopia from the new mission stems from concerns over territorial sovereignty violations and Ethiopia’s dealings with Somaliland over access to the Red Sea. In response, Egypt has dispatched weapons, military advisors, and commando units to Somalia, despite objections from countries contributing troops to the mission, such as Uganda. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is set to expire in December 2024.
Egypt aims to solidify its presence before the December 31 deadline for the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces, although Ethiopia insists that the African Union should determine mission troop composition. Tensions have escalated as Ethiopia recently deployed an additional 7,000 troops to Somalia, despite Somalia’s calls for their removal.