Monday, July 7, 2025
Cairo, Egypt — (Horn Africa News) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Cairo yesterday for a high-level meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, as the two leaders look to deepen cooperation on security, economic development, education, and regional stability.
At the heart of today’s talks is Somalia’s request for Egypt to accelerate the deployment of its troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The operation, launched in January 2025, has been hampered by financial and logistical challenges. President Hassan Sheikh is expected to urge Cairo to fast-track its military support to bolster Somalia’s efforts to stabilize the country.
The push for Egyptian troop deployment follows a military agreement signed between the two nations in August 2024, which permits Egypt to provide direct military assistance to Somalia, independent of the African Union framework. Since then, Egypt has delivered several shipments of arms and military equipment to Mogadishu.
Egyptian forces are anticipated to assume positions currently held by Burundian troops, who have completed a six-month rotation, while Somalia awaits additional reinforcements.
President Hassan Sheikh’s diplomatic engagement with both Egypt and Ethiopia — two rivals over Nile River politics — underscores his balancing act in securing regional partnerships vital for Somalia’s security. Despite tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa, Mogadishu has successfully signed military agreements with both, in a bid to enhance stability and counter extremist threats.
The AUSSOM mission is seen as a critical component of Somalia’s peace-building process, with international troops playing a key role in strengthening national security institutions. Egypt’s contribution is expected to further boost Somalia’s capacity to confront ongoing security challenges.
