Egypt is reportedly preparing to deploy troops to Somalia under a bilateral defence agreement, with plans that could see around 1,000 Egyptian personnel join the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The proposed deployment comes as uncertainty remains over Burundi’s future military presence in the mission. This has raised questions about the timing of the transition and the risk of a security gap in areas where African Union forces support Somali troops in operations against Al-Shabaab.
According to reports, Egypt intends to send an initial contingent to Somalia under its bilateral defence agreement before transferring around 1,000 personnel to AUSSOM, subject to the necessary approvals.
The African Union Peace and Security Council has previously called for Egypt’s deployment to coincide with the withdrawal of Burundian troops to prevent a security vacuum. However, recent reports have raised questions about coordination, with the Burundian contingent reportedly saying it had not been formally notified of the proposed arrangements.
The planned transition comes as AUSSOM faces funding and operational constraints, increasing the importance of maintaining logistical support and coordination among troop-contributing countries.
AUSSOM relies on international support for essential services, including fuel, transport and medical assistance, as Somali forces continue operations against Al-Shabaab. The United States has agreed to give the United Nations an additional 12 months to wind down its logistical support operation, with the process expected to begin in January 2027.
Uncertainty surrounding future support adds to the challenges facing the mission as it seeks to maintain its operational capacity and assist Somali forces.
For Somalia, a key issue is not only when Egyptian troops will arrive, but also how their deployment will be coordinated with the African Union mission and the forces already operating in the country.
The precise timing of Egypt’s deployment, the arrangements for Burundi’s withdrawal and the mission’s future command structure remain unclear. It is also uncertain how the proposed transition will be authorised and coordinated among the Somali government, the African Union and troop-contributing countries.
Egypt’s reported deployment could change the composition of the African Union mission in Somalia. However, the transition raises questions about coordination, funding and continuity of operations.
Key developments to watch include when Egyptian troops will arrive, whether Burundi’s withdrawal will coincide with their deployment, and how AUSSOM will maintain its operational capacity amid existing funding gaps.
