Djibouti to Deploy New Hiil-Walaal Brigade to Somalia Peacekeeping Mission

Saturday March 14, 2026

DJIBOUTI (AX) — Djibouti is deploying a new contingent of troops to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), with the 13th “Hiil-Walaal” Brigade scheduled to arrive March 16 to reinforce security and stabilization efforts, officials said.

The rotation will replace the 12th Brigade currently serving in Somalia and sustain Djibouti’s long-standing role in the Hirshabelle state, a central region where Djiboutian forces have helped hold key towns and secure main supply routes alongside Somali forces. The incoming brigade is expected to take part in counterinsurgency operations, support local administration stabilization tasks and safeguard critical infrastructure.

Chief of the General Staff of the Djibouti Armed Forces, Gen. Zakaria Sheikh Ibrahim, inspected the 13th Brigade at the “Ali Cowni” training camp in the Arta region ahead of the deployment. During the visit, he reviewed operational readiness, met with officers and rank-and-file soldiers and urged the unit to uphold discipline, unity and professionalism, emphasizing that the contingent represents Djibouti’s commitment to Somalia’s security.

Djibouti is among several regional contributors to AUSSOM, the African Union mission mandated to assist Somali security forces against al-Shabab and to stabilize areas the government has brought under control. Djiboutian troops have maintained a presence for years in Hirshabelle population centers including Beledweyne, Jalalaqsi and Bulo-Burde, where they have supported joint operations, protected public institutions and assisted in civilian protection efforts.

The upcoming handover underscores the AU mission’s reliance on routine troop rotations to maintain tempo and continuity across sectors. Officials did not provide additional details on the composition or duration of the new deployment, but the 13th “Hiil-Walaal” Brigade’s arrival is intended to prevent operational gaps as Somali forces and local authorities consolidate gains and expand basic services in newly stabilized districts.

Djibouti’s forces are expected to continue working in tandem with the Somali National Army, police units and local administrations to counter al-Shabab’s capacity to stage attacks, impede movement along critical corridors and intimidate communities. In Hirshabelle, where riverine terrain and recurring floods complicate operations and humanitarian access, AU contingents have focused on securing river crossings, government offices, markets and aid distribution points.

Officials framed the rotation as part of a broader stabilization push designed to pair security operations with governance support, including facilitating the return of displaced residents where conditions allow. Djiboutian units have previously been tasked with perimeter security for administrative hubs, convoy escorts for supplies and medical evacuations and rapid-response support to Somali forces confronting militant cells.

As the 13th “Hiil-Walaal” Brigade prepares to assume duties, attention will turn to the transition with the outgoing 12th Brigade and the brigade’s initial deployment footprint in Hirshabelle. Local leaders have typically coordinated with AU sector commands to sequence handovers, brief incoming commanders on threat patterns and align patrols with community priorities.

• Arrival: March 16, according to officials
• Mission: Support AUSSOM’s security and stabilization mandate alongside Somali forces
• Area of focus: Hirshabelle state, including long-held towns such as Beledweyne, Jalalaqsi and Bulo-Burde
• Leadership: Gen. Zakaria Sheikh Ibrahim oversaw pre-deployment readiness in Arta
• Rotation: 13th Brigade replaces the 12th Brigade in Somalia

The deployment comes amid continued efforts by Somali authorities and regional partners to deny militant groups space to operate and to restore essential services. Djibouti’s latest rotation signals an intent to keep pressure on insurgents while bolstering the administrative and security groundwork needed for communities to rebuild.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.