Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Based on a July 2014 U.S. Department of State photograph; background extended with AI for a horizontal format.
October 25, 2026 | The Wider Chronicle
Egypt is preparing to send troops to Somalia in a move that would deepen its military partnership with Mogadishu and expand its presence in the Horn of Africa. But questions remain about when the soldiers will arrive, how they will operate and how their deployment will fit alongside the African Union mission already in the country.
According to The EastAfrican, Egyptian forces would initially deploy under a bilateral agreement with Somalia. About 1,000 personnel could later transfer to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, once the necessary approvals are secured. Cairo has not publicly announced the total size of the planned force or a firm deployment date.
Preparations have reportedly centred on Ceelcade, near the former Cisiley airfield in Middle Shabelle, north of Mogadishu. Earlier this month, The New Arab reported that Egyptian advisers, trainers and technical officers were helping prepare for the troops’ arrival. Egyptian military delegations also held meetings with Somali defence officials in September to discuss training and security cooperation.
For Somalia, the prospect of additional military support comes as its forces continue fighting al-Shabaab. Egyptian personnel could help strengthen that effort, although their precise responsibilities have yet to be publicly explained.
The immediate challenge is coordination. A force arriving under a bilateral agreement would need clear arrangements for working with AU troops, particularly in areas where other contingents already operate. The EastAfrican reported that questions remain over command, logistics and a possible handover from Burundian forces. The newspaper said its requests for comment from Egyptian military authorities and AU headquarters had gone unanswered at publication.
The plans build on a military cooperation agreement signed by Egypt and Somalia in 2024. They also come at a sensitive time in a region where security partnerships are closely watched. Egypt and Ethiopia remain divided over Nile waters, while maritime access and influence around the Red Sea add further tensions.
Somali political analyst Hassan Muhammad told The New Arab that Egyptian support could help strengthen Somalia’s security institutions. Its success, he argued, would depend on clear objectives, coordination with Somali authorities and respect for the country’s sovereignty.
For now, the latest reporting points to preparations for a deployment rather than confirmation that the full force has arrived. The next step will be establishing when the troops will deploy and the arrangements governing their work.