An Egyptian delegation ended an exploratory task in preparation for the deployment of forces from the Egyptian army within the African Union mission to support and stabilize Somalia (Osum).
According to the official Somali News Agency, the Minister of Defense, Ahmed Muallem Faki, held a bid in honor of a delegation of Egyptian armed forces officers, at the end of a week -long official visit to the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The visit came, according to the Somali source, as part of an exploratory mission in preparation for the deployment of forces from the Egyptian army within the African Union Mission to support and stabilize Somalia (Aussom), with the aim of contributing to enhancing security, combating terrorism, and consolidating the pillars of stability in Somalia and the region.
During the meeting, the Somali Minister of Defense expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to Egypt, leadership, government and people, appreciating its supportive positions for Somalia, stressing that the deployment of the Egyptian forces within the “Aussom” mission will represent a qualitative addition to the efforts to restore security and peace in Somalia and enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit, the Egyptian delegation made field tours that included the cities of Johar, Blade, Mahdai and Bourney, as well as the Blidogli Air Force Base, in which the Egyptian forces are scheduled to deploy within the African mission.
Ambassador Hajj Ibrahim Deni, the Special Representative of the Chairman of the African Union Commission in Somalia and the head of the Union Mission, also met with the Egyptian evaluation team headed by Major General Islam Radwan, to discuss preparations for the deployment of Egyptian forces, at the end of his visit to Somalia.
Ambassador Dini thanked Egypt for its commitment to the peacekeeping process, saying that publishing will enhance the ability of the African Union support mission to achieve stability and security in Somalia, and stressed that the mission is still a fully committed commitment to facilitate the integration of the new unit into the operations of the African Union.
For his part, Radwan expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of the African Union of Peace Conservation in Somalia, stressing Egypt’s readiness to play a prominent role in supporting the efforts of the African Union to achieve peace in Somalia, according to what was reported by the “new Somalia” news website on Sunday.
The assessment task, which lasted from August 30 to September 5, is part of the broader African Union strategy to enhance military cooperation with its member state.
And behind the African Union Mission (Attis), whose mandate ended in 2024, the “African Union to support stability in Somalia”, known as “Oasum”, began its official operations last January, after the UN Security Council approved a decision on it in December 2024, for a preliminary period of 12 months; In order to support Somalia in combating the “terrorist” movement, which has been escalating in Somalia for 15 years.
The Egyptian moves have started since the approval of the mission in the late 2024, and since last Monday it witnessed preliminary visits.
The Secretary -General of the General Command of the Somali Army received Brigadier General Mohamed Goudh Berri, about a week ago, stressing “the importance of strengthening military cooperation between the two countries,” according to the official Somali News Agency (Souna).
About a week ago, the Somali Ministry of Defense announced, in a statement, “the conclusion of the first training course for units of the Egyptian Armed Forces, in preparation for its soon joining a (Osum) mission to support security and stability in Somalia, and to enhance the capabilities of the national army through the new temple of the mission.”
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Bader Abdel -Ati, announced in press statements, in late December 2024, that the Egyptian forces will participate in Somalia “at the request of the Somali government, and a welcome from the African Union’s peace and security council.”
In August 2024, Egypt and Somalia signed a military cooperation protocol, and the two countries agreed to participate in Egypt in the African Peacekeeping Mission during the period from 2025 to 2029, and Cairo supported Mogadishu with military equipment last September.
