Egypt troops on track to join African peacekeepers in Somalia – Ethiopia isn’t happy

Preparations for the deployment of an Egyptian contingent in the African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (Aussom), remain on track, as a unit of Egyptian soldiers has completed its training programme and will soon join the force.

In a post on X, Somalia’s defence ministry welcomed the news, adding: “This step underscores Egypt’s strong commitment to supporting Somalia’s security and strengthening the capacity of the Somali National Army through the new Aussom framework.” Egypt’s contingent will be the smallest (just over 1,000), fighting alongside Djiboutian, Kenyan, Ethiopian and Ugandan troops against al-Shabaab in south-central Somalia. Egypt and Somalia have been strengthening their relationship (including mutual defence pact) since last year when Somaliland and Ethiopia’s signed sea access deal. Somalia welcomed Egypt’s participation in the African peacekeeping force, which Egypt accepted. Cairo has its own dispute with Ethiopia over GERD. The memorandum infuriated Somalia, which accused Ethiopia of annexing its territory, but a deal was eventually brokered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the so-called Ankara Declaration, which put bilateral relations back on track.

Last week, Ethiopia’s ambassador to Türkiye, Adem Mohammed, told the Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansı that the declaration was working despite reports the Ankara Declaration was dead. In any case, Egyptian-Somali cooperation has continued. Last August, Emirati newspaper The National reported that Egypt had bilaterally deployed 300 special forces from its commando units. Egypt has also sent Somalia arms. And now the plan to deploy troops has further irked Ethiopia, which had previously advised Somalia against allowing Egyptian troops to be stationed there.

In an interview with Somali channel Universal TV, Ethiopia’s newly appointed ambassador, Sulaiman Dedefo, said his country was “not scared and not threatened by the presence of Egyptian forces” as long as they do not “challenge our forces.” He added that Egypt lacked a track record of peacekeeping success and, in a broadside, suggested they focus on Palestine, Libya, and Sudan. Egyptian MP Mustafa Bakhri said Ethiopian criticisms were “unacceptable and only intended to provoke instability”. Liam Karr, Africa Lead for the Critical Threats newsletter, however, speculated that Somalia could become a “potential proxy theatre” if tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia escalate into violence.