NEW YORK, (HAN) – Djibouti has announced plans to send additional troops to Somalia as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against the militant group Al-Shabaab, reaffirming its longstanding role in peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
The announcement was made by Djibouti’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohamed Siad Doualeh, during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
“Djibouti strongly welcomes Somalia’s progress in state-building and security, but there are still enormous challenges that must be tackled collectively,” Ambassador Doualeh said.
Underscoring his country’s support for the Federal Government of Somalia, Doualeh revealed that Djibouti and Somalia have signed a bilateral agreement allowing for the deployment of more Djiboutian troops to Somalia.
The new contingent will take part in operations against Al-Shabaab and assist in stabilizing newly liberated areas. They will operate under the framework of the African Union’s new mission in Somalia, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which replaced ATMIS earlier this year.
Ambassador Doualeh also urged the international community to scale up support for Somalia, noting that terrorist attacks continue to pose a serious threat to civilians, security forces, and humanitarian workers.
Djibouti was among the first countries to deploy peacekeeping forces to Somalia more than a decade ago, when the African Union first launched its military mission in the country. Since then, Djiboutian troops have played a key role in counterinsurgency operations and in efforts to stabilize Somalia’s fragile state institutions.
Analysts say Djibouti’s latest commitment reflects both regional solidarity and growing concerns that security gains in Somalia remain fragile without sustained support from neighboring countries and the wider international community.