Egypt to Decide on Troop Deployment to Somalia Amid Regional Tensions

CAIRO - The Egyptian government is set to decide on whether to dispatch troops to Somalia for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), days after the new mission started operations in the Horn of Africa nation.

According to reports, a meeting shall be held between January 10 and 12 to consider participation in AUSSOM, even with increasing resistance from Ethiopia, which considers Cairo as an 'outsider' in the Somalia mission, having been absent for almost two decades.

Officials from Egypt and Somalia were previously quoted as saying that Cairo will play a role in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM. Cairo and Mogadishu had signed a defense pact which was widely criticised by Ethiopia.

Somalia's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Balcad confirmed talks scheduled for Jan. 15-17 in Cairo between Somalia and Egypt regarding Cairo's troop contribution to the new African Union mission (AUSSOM).

Ethiopia which seeks Red Sea access is cleared to participate in the AUSSOM amid tensions with Egypt over the Nile dam. But before clearance, Somalia had accused Ethiopia of infringement of its territorial integrity and sovereignty following a deal with Somaliland over access to sea.

However, the standoff was solved in Ankara after Turkey intervened, with Ethiopia and Somalia picking technical committees that would help determine the access to the sea, but on commercial grounds. Ethiopia has since dragged the deal with Somaliland.

Despite an okay to participate in the new mission, Ethiopia however, has raised concerns about Egypt's presence in Somalia, faulting Cairo for being 'opportunistic'. According to Addis Ababa, Cairo has never been keen to help Somalia stabilize.

Also on the desk is the participation of the Burundi troops in the new mission, with Bujumbura accusing Mogadishu of 'mistreatment'. While Burundi wants at least 2000 slots in the new mission, Somalia has allocated only 1,100 spaces for the soldiers.

GAROWE ONLINE