Egypt Prepares Troop Deployment to Somalia After Reconnaissance Mission

Egypt Prepares Troop Deployment to Somalia After Reconnaissance Mission

Mogadishu, Sept 7 — The Commander of the Somali National Army’s land forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi, on Sunday bid farewell to an Egyptian military delegation at Mogadishu’s Adan Abdulle International Airport. The officials concluded a week-long reconnaissance mission ahead of Egypt’s planned deployment to the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Independent journalist M.M. Dhoore confirmed the development in a post on X, noting that the delegation’s visit marked the final stage of preparations for Egypt’s involvement in the mission.

The Commander of the #Somali National Army’s land forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi, saw off today at Mogadishu’s Adan Abdulle International Airport #Egyptian military officials who have concluded their week-long reconnaissance mission in Somalia in preparation for the deployment of Egyptian troops to #AUSSOM — M.M. Dhoore (@mmdhoore)

According to Egyptian outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, the 16-member team, led by Major General Islam Radwan, inspected logistics and security facilities and held coordination meetings with Somali officials. The paper added that Ethiopia has expressed concern over Cairo’s new role in Somalia, underscoring regional sensitivities.The newspaper reported:

The Egyptian delegation conducted field visits to key sites in Mogadishu to assess conditions ahead of deployment. Discussions with Somali defense officials focused on coordination, logistics, and training frameworks for the troops to be stationed under AUSSOM.

Egypt’s potential troop deployment comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment, as relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa remain strained over disputes including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Analysts note that Egyptian military involvement in Somalia could further reshape dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

The Egyptian deployment would mark Cairo’s first direct military participation under AUSSOM, aimed at supporting Somali security forces.

Somalia has been the focus of multiple international peacekeeping efforts for decades. The African Union mission, restructured in 2022 into AUSSOM, is intended to stabilize the country and transition security responsibilities to Somali forces.