Saturday, July 5, 2025 — HAN
The deployment of Egyptian troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s mission, known as AUSSOM, has been delayed once again due to ongoing financial and logistical hurdles facing the African Union operation. As a result, Burundian forces, initially scheduled to withdraw by June 30, 2025, will remain in Somalia for the foreseeable future.
The Burundian troops’ withdrawal had been planned following disputes between Somalia and Burundi over troop numbers, with Egyptian forces slated to replace them. However, the delay was confirmed during the African Union Peace and Security Council’s (AUPSC) 1,287th meeting, chaired by Uganda’s Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo.
The Council stressed that the continued presence of Burundian forces is essential to sustain the fight against Al-Shabaab and support Somalia’s fragile stability.
The AUPSC resolved that all AU troops operating under the AUSSOM mandate—including those previously expected to leave by June 30—will continue to receive logistical support from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) for an additional six months.
The setback in deploying the Egyptian contingent has raised new doubts over whether the troops will be dispatched at all. The mission is grappling with significant funding gaps and delays in processes set by the AU and UN to facilitate the Egyptian deployment.
This situation has not only extended the stay of Burundian forces, but also impacted planned rotations of police units from Ghana and Sierra Leone.
According to the AU’s deployment framework, Egyptian forces can only enter Somalia after a corresponding number of Burundian troops have exited—most of whom are stationed in the Hirshabelle region.
The AU Peace and Security Council has called on AU leaders to engage key partners—including the United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, and others—to organize a donor conference aimed at securing the $166.5 million in annual funding required to sustain AUSSOM operations.
Under the official troop plan, AUSSOM is to consist of 4,500 troops from Uganda, 2,500 from Ethiopia, 1,520 from Djibouti, 1,410 from Kenya, and 1,091 from Egypt.
The African Union has voiced serious concerns about Somalia’s readiness to take full responsibility for its security, despite the Somali government’s assertions that over 20,000 security personnel have been trained.
The delay comes at a time when Al-Shabaab attacks have intensified, further complicating the transition.
