How Egypt intends to deploy military to Somalia

CAIRO, Egypt - After weeks of deep consultations with the federal government of Somalia, Egypt has settled on the deployment of soldiers to the Horn of Africa nation, who will help the country push for much-needed stability in light of insecurity setbacks facing the region.

Although highly criticized by Ethiopia given their subling rivalry on utilization of the Nile River resources, Egypt has maintained its pledge, arguing that the stabilization of Somalia is an important part of its role in the peacekeeping mission quest.

Multiple sources in Cairo have confirmed that Egypt would deploy two contingents of the army to Somalia but the number is yet to be determined since this falls under the discretion of the government of Somalia.

One of the contingents shall work under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), a new outfit that replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), whose mandate expired in January 2025.

In addition, Egypt will send forces under bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Somalia. Through this aggressive arrangement, the troops shall equip, arm, rehabilitate, and train the Somali National Army (SNA) a move which Ethiopia had expressed reservations.

If confirmed, this is essentially similar to the current arrangement that Ethiopian forces have in Somalia where some Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) operate as part of AU forces while others operate under bilateral agreement.

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently visited both Addis Ababa and Cairo to seek concurrence since both countries would play an integral role in the stabilization process. The move also quelled tensions between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa and that of Addis Ababa with Cairo.

The troops shall help in crushing the Alshabaab militants in the country, a group that has fought for two decades intending to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia. Egypt works closely with the African Union and the Arab League on matters of security and stability.

GAROWE ONLINE