Cairo, Egypt – Somalia’s Ministry of Defence has announced the successful completion of the first training programme for units of the Egyptian Armed Forces set to join the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The training, which concluded this week, marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s planned contribution to the mission, following the African Union Peace and Security Council’s earlier approval of Egyptian troop participation. According to the ministry, the programme prepared the contingent for counter-terrorism operations, peace support tasks, and collaboration with Somali and regional security partners.
The deployment reflects Egypt’s expanding role in regional stability and its deepening commitment to Somalia’s security at a time when the country is battling persistent threats from Al-Shabaab and ISIS-affiliated groups.
“This step underscores Egypt’s unwavering support for Somalia’s stability and its determination to bolster the capacity of the Somali National Army,” the ministry stated.
Cairo’s participation comes under the new AUSSOM framework, which was endorsed to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). With a mandate focused on stabilisation, capacity-building, and counter-insurgency operations, AUSSOM is expected to play a central role in Somalia’s security transition over the coming years.
The Ministry of Defence further acknowledged the contributions of the African Union and international partners in reinforcing Somalia’s national security institutions. It emphasized that collective efforts remain critical to accelerating the fight against extremist groups and ensuring long-term peace and development in the Horn of Africa.
