Somalia’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the first contingent of Egyptian troops assigned to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has successfully completed its initial training program.
The Ministry hailed the milestone as a sign of Egypt’s growing commitment to Somalia’s security and to strengthening the Somali National Army within the framework of the new AU mission, which replaces ATMIS. It also credited both the African Union and international partners for their role in supporting Somali security institutions and accelerating efforts against militant groups such as Al-Shabaab and Daesh.
Egypt’s participation as a troop-contributing country comes in the wake of tensions between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa following Ethiopia’s 2024 port access deal with Somaliland. At that time, Somalia rejected Ethiopian involvement in future AU-led forces and instead deepened security ties with Cairo, including arms deliveries and joint training exercises.
However, relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have since eased, with both sides reaching consensus earlier this year on the Ethiopian National Defense Force’s continued presence under AUSSOM.
The mission is expected to field 11,900 personnel drawn from several African nations. Uganda will provide 4,500 soldiers, Ethiopia 2,500, Djibouti 1,520, Kenya 1,410, and Egypt 1,091. Additional police contingents from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Egypt are also set to be deployed to Mogadishu, Jowhar, and Baidoa.