Egypt is preparing to deploy a brigade-sized force to Somalia under a bilateral military cooperation agreement before integrating approximately 1,000 personnel into the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), a move that has raised serious concerns over command authority, operational coordination, and regional rivalries.
According to a report by The East African on 25 October, the initial Egyptian deployment is expected to comprise a battle group with support elements in Middle Shabelle, north of Mogadishu. A tactical headquarters is planned at Ceelcade, near Ciciley airfield, an area currently held by Burundian AU troops . Additional Egyptian forces could be stationed elsewhere at Somalia’s request, though Cairo has not disclosed the full size of its deployment.
The African Union has yet to publicly clarify how the bilateral force will coordinate with AUSSOM and other contingents. Burundi’s troops, which receive logistical support through the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), have reportedly not been formally notified of the proposed arrangements and have indicated they will not operate under a bilateral command structure, stating they are prepared to withdraw once replaced .
The deployment follows a military cooperation agreement signed between Egypt and Somalia in August 2024, when Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Cairo and jointly presided over the signing with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi . That agreement was followed by Egyptian shipments of weapons, ammunition, and armoured vehicles, as well as military training and advisory support.
In August 2025, Somalia’s Defence Ministry announced the completion of specialised training for Egyptian units intended for AUSSOM. A 16-member Egyptian military reconnaissance delegation visited Mogadishu the following month to assess deployment sites and logistics. Preparations, including troop movements and site work at Ceelcade, have been underway, though formal integration remained delayed by funding and logistical challenges .
Egypt was allocated approximately 1,091 troops under AUSSOM in late 2024 but delayed formal participation, citing funding constraints. Deploying under a bilateral agreement before integration raises questions over command authority, accountability, logistics, and potential operational overlap .
The planned deployment comes as AUSSOM faces significant financial and operational pressures while supporting Somali forces against Al-Shabaab. Uncertainty over logistical support through UNSOS, amid questions about continued US funding, has further complicated the mission’s sustainability . The UN Security Council extended AUSSOM’s mandate until 31 December 2026, authorising up to 11,826 uniformed personnel, but funding gaps remain a persistent concern .
The move carries broader regional implications amid longstanding tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), alongside competing interests in Red Sea access. Ethiopia has recently withdrawn some troops from Somalia as it redirects military resources toward internal conflicts . Analysts warn that competing security partnerships could complicate operations and draw Somalia’s security arrangements into wider regional rivalries .
