MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has finalized preparations to host incoming Egyptian troops, with military bases now ready in several key towns, Caasimada Online news website reported on Sunday.
A technical delegation from Cairo recently concluded an assessment mission aimed at evaluating the suitability of the environment, climate, and community interaction for the Egyptian forces.
The Egyptian troops are expected to be deployed to the towns of Bal’ad, Jowhar, Burane, and Mahaday – currently manned by Burundian peacekeepers – as well as Baledogle Air Base, a strategic facility also used by U.S. forces for drone operations in the country.
The Egyptian assessment team wrapped up its work this week and returned to Cairo, paving the way for the troop deployment in the coming weeks. During their visit, the team held talks with officials from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali government to iron out technical and logistical arrangements surrounding the deployment.
The move marks Egypt’s first direct military contribution under the African Union’s peacekeeping framework in Somalia, a country struggling to contain an ongoing insurgency by the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group.
However, Egypt’s planned involvement has sparked sharp criticism from Ethiopia, a regional rival. Ethiopian Ambassador to Somalia Suleiman Dedefo recently said Cairo’s deployment would not contribute to the country’s stability, citing Egypt’s lack of peacekeeping experience and its role in recent conflicts in Sudan, Libya, and Gaza.
Cairo has not officially responded to Ethiopia’s criticism. However, Egyptian officials have framed the deployment as part of a broader commitment to African security and regional cooperation through the AU.
The African Union and Somali authorities have not commented publicly on the Ethiopian objections, but sources within AUSSOM say the mission is working to ensure coordination among troop-contributing countries.
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