Somalia Announces Security Agreement with Egypt, Mirroring Deals with the U.S. and Turkey

In Mogadishu, Somali leaders are staunchly defending a new security agreement they’ve forged with Egypt. To them, this deal nestles comfortably alongside Somalia’s collaborations with the U.S., Turkey, the EU, and several Gulf nations.

Hussein Sheikh Ali, who advises Somalia on national security matters, clarified that Egyptian forces might soon participate in the awaited African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This mission is destined to succeed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by early 2025.

Ali stressed that any inclusion of Egyptian forces would be a decision firmly in the hands of the Somali government. The aim of the new initiative? To bolster Somalia’s security forces while also protecting African Union staff.

Back in September, as part of this security pact, Egypt sent a significant shipment of weaponry to Somalia, equipping them with anti-aircraft guns and artillery. This action drew sharp criticism from Ethiopia.

Egypt and Djibouti have thrown their weight behind the mission as well, a gesture Somalia warmly embraces as it continues its quest for nationwide peace and stability.

Recently, Somali Defense Minister Abdukhadir Mohamed Noor emphasized that Ethiopia won’t be on the roster for the upcoming AUSSOM unless it backs down from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with North Western State of Somalia.

This MoU essentially hands Ethiopia leasing rights over a part of North Western State of Somalia, allowing for the construction of a naval base there, which Ethiopia offers in exchange for recognizing the region diplomatically.

Additionally, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accused Ethiopia of using counterterrorism as a flimsy excuse to nibble away at Somali lands. Fiqi, at the United Nations Security Council, claimed that Somalia had thwarted illegal Ethiopian arms shipments meant to stoke local tensions. In his eyes, these acts amounted to a stark “affront” to Somalia’s autonomy.

Edited by: Ali Musa

Axadle international–Monitoring