Egyptian troops to join AU mission in Somalia Amid Tensions with Ethiopia
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 01-09-2025, 07:46PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Ahead of the much-anticipated deployment to Somalia, Egyptian troops are set to assist in peacekeeping operations within Middle Shabelle — a region that has struggled with Al-Shabaab dominance for the longest spells.
On Monday, the 16-member technical committee team, which arrived on Sunday, was ushered in at Jowhar, the regional administrative capital of Hirshabelle state, where they were taken through pre-deployment protocols.
Led by Maj. Gen. Islam Radwan, the team was welcomed by the AUSSOM Burundi Contingent Commander, Col. Oscar Hatungimana at Sector 5 headquarters, where they assessed Middle Shabelle's security situation, AUSSOM said.
"The Egyptian forces received a briefing from Col. Hatungimana and his team before inspecting key facilities at Jowhar Airfield in preparation for troop deployment," read the statement from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
In Mogadishu, the delegation had held talks with AUSSOM leadership at the fortified Halane base camp near Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport. Discussions focused on logistical preparations and operational coordination for the incoming Egyptian forces.
The incorporation of Egyptian troops would likely trigger tensions with Ethiopia, terming the move as suspicious. Suleiman Dedefo, Ethiopia's ambassador to Somalia, insisted that the presence of Egyptian troops would not contribute to the stability of the country.
Tensions over Egypt’s involvement have intensified amid broader geopolitical strains between Cairo and Addis Ababa, particularly regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile – a project Egypt views as a threat to its vital water security.
Egypt will be joining Kenya, Djibouti, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Uganda in the mission, with the team's sole focus being on ending Al-Shabaab resurgence. The al-Shabaab militants have dominated central and southern regions for two decades.
GAROWE ONLINE
