Tuesday August 26, 2025
Egyptian military personnel pose for a group photo after completing training ahead of their deployment to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM). Somalia’s Ministry of Defense welcomed the move as part of efforts to strengthen joint operations against al-Shabab. Credit / SONNA
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s government has welcomed the upcoming deployment of Egyptian troops under the African Union’s new stabilization mission, after Cairo completed the first training program for units set to join operations against al-Shabab.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the troops will arrive in the coming weeks and join the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). They are expected to be stationed in Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle, and Gedo, where Somali and allied forces have launched repeated offensives against militants.
“The Ministry of Defense welcomes the successful conclusion of the first training program for Egyptian Armed Forces units who will soon join AUSSOM,” the ministry said in a statement. Officials said the deployment will expand multinational support as Somalia intensifies its campaign against al-Shabab and ISIS.
Egypt’s participation in AUSSOM was endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council in late 2024,
following months of talks with Somali officials. In January, Somalia’s foreign minister
publicly confirmed Egypt’s role in the mission, while leaders in Mogadishu and Cairo signed a
security partnership to coordinate counterterrorism efforts.
AUSSOM formally replaced ATMIS on Jan. 1 after authorization by the U.N. Security Council. The mission is designed to provide security assistance while gradually transferring responsibility to Somali forces. The AU has struggled with financing, however, after the U.N. missed a funding deadline in May, forcing member states to double their contributions in July to sustain the operation.
Egypt’s entry into AUSSOM
follows shifting regional dynamics. Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia were strained in 2024 after Addis Ababa signed a port access deal with Somaliland, prompting Mogadishu to threaten expulsion of Ethiopian troops. Turkey later mediated talks that restored ties in early 2025, clearing the way for new troop-contributing countries such as Egypt to join the AU mission.
In recent weeks, Somali forces and AU contingents have reported major clashes in the deployment areas. Commandos killed more than 100 al-Shabab fighters in Lower Shabelle earlier this month, while local forces in Hiiraan vowed to intensify operations around Beledweyne. Gedo has also remained volatile, with Somali and Jubbaland troops battling militants alongside disputes involving Ethiopian forces.
AUSSOM’s official mandate is to back Somali stabilization efforts while building the capacity of the Somali National Army.
