Egyptian military delegation in Mogadishu as Cairo prepares troop deployment to Somalia

A 16-member Egyptian military delegation, led by Major General Islam Radwan, which arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday for a reconnaissance mission ahead of Egypt’s planned troop deployment under AUSSOM. (Photo: Handout)

By Abdirahman Khalif
Sunday, August 31, 2025

The visit follows the completion of specialised training by the Egyptian contingent, designed to prepare them for operations in Somalia.

A 16-member Egyptian Armed Forces delegation, led by Major General Islam Radwan, arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday for a reconnaissance mission ahead of Egypt’s troop deployment under the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

This marks Egypt’s first formal combat contribution to Somalia. The delegation held meetings with officers from both AUSSOM and the Somali National Armed Forces, alongside the African Union Envoy and Head of Mission, El Hadji Ibrahima Diene.

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At AUSSOM’s Force Headquarters in Mogadishu, the Egyptian officers received a comprehensive security briefing and were scheduled to tour deployment and logistics facilities in the capital as well as forward operational areas.

The visit follows the completion of specialised training by the Egyptian contingent, designed to prepare them for operations in Somalia.

Their deployment was recently approved by the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), which endorsed Egypt’s request to formally join AUSSOM.

Established in 2024 to succeed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), AUSSOM’s mandate includes supporting the Somali National Army in its fight against al-Shabaab, stabilising newly recovered territories, and gradually transferring security responsibilities to Somali forces.

Egypt’s participation is viewed as both politically and strategically significant. With one of Africa’s most capable militaries, Egypt has long voiced support for Somalia’s sovereignty and stability, but has never before deployed troops to the country.

Strengthen bilateral ties

Its entry into AUSSOM strengthens bilateral ties with Mogadishu and signals a deeper commitment to African peace and security initiatives.

The Somali Ministry of Defence hailed the Egyptian delegation’s arrival, calling the upcoming deployment a milestone in bilateral security cooperation. In a statement, the Ministry said: “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.”

The statement also acknowledged the African Union Peace and Security Council’s role in enabling Egypt’s participation, describing it as part of the collective effort by African and international partners to reinforce Somalia’s national security institutions.

The deployment comes at a time when Somalia continues to battle the persistent threat of al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked militant group entrenched in several rural areas despite ongoing military campaigns. Somali forces, backed by regional and international allies, remain engaged in efforts to weaken the group and secure government-controlled territories.

Egypt’s involvement is expected to add both manpower and technical expertise to AUSSOM, while enhancing Cairo’s cooperation with Mogadishu. It also reflects the African Union’s broader strategy of relying on diverse, capable contributors to support Somalia’s transition.

With the reconnaissance mission underway, Egyptian troops are expected to deploy in the coming weeks, joining Somali and allied forces in the ongoing push to restore stability and security across the country.