Strategic Alliance: Somalia and Egypt solidify military ties ahead of AU mission deployment

CAIRO - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister reviewed Egyptian troops on Tuesday ahead of their deployment to a new African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, Cairo’s military spokesperson said.

The inspection by Mohamud and General Abdel Mageed Saqr, Egypt’s commander-in-chief and minister of defense, marks a significant step in the growing security partnership between the two nations as Somalia moves toward a new security phase.

The Egyptian forces will join the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is slated to replace the current ATMIS peacekeeping force.

During the ceremony, officials were briefed on the "preparation and equipping procedures" for the units, which the Egyptian military said demonstrated a high level of operational and combat readiness. The program also included training demonstrations and a display of vehicles designated for the mission.

"The ceremony underscored Cairo’s continued engagement in African peace and security efforts, particularly in backing Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity, and institutional stability," the military spokesperson said in a statement.

The deployment comes after President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with President Mohamud in Cairo on Sunday, where the Egyptian leader reaffirmed his "unwavering support" for Somalia’s sovereignty. Egypt has repeatedly expressed its rejection of any measures that could undermine Somali stability, amid regional tensions over a maritime deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.

According to the military statement, the participating Egyptian forces have completed advanced training to ensure efficiency under various operational conditions.

The event was also attended by Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, chief of staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and other senior military commanders.

Egypt, a longtime contributor to international peacekeeping, has recently moved to elevate its relationship with Somalia to a strategic partnership, covering security and development dimensions.

GAROWE ONLINE