Cairo (KAAB TV) – Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, held a high-level meeting on Saturday with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), on the sidelines of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) inauguration in Giza.
The discussion centered on Egypt’s upcoming participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and broader efforts to strengthen African-led peacekeeping initiatives.
According to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s “unwavering commitment to supporting peace, stability, and state-building across the African continent.”
He highlighted the need for sustainable international funding and logistical backing to ensure that AUSSOM can fully implement its mandate and maintain operational effectiveness in Somalia.
“The success of AUSSOM depends not only on the dedication of African states but also on the sustained political and financial support of the international community,” Abdelatty was quoted as saying. He stressed that Egypt’s contribution represents a strategic return to peacekeeping under the African Union framework, aligning with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s broader vision for African security cooperation.
AUSSOM, which officially replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in August 2024, is mandated to support the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in consolidating gains made against the Al-Shabaab insurgency, rebuilding state institutions, and preparing for a complete security handover to Somali forces.
The transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM marks a new phase in Somalia’s stabilization process, focusing on capacity-building rather than combat-heavy operations.
Egypt announced earlier this year that it would deploy both military personnel and logistical support units to AUSSOM — its first major AU peacekeeping contribution in more than a decade.
This move signals Cairo’s renewed engagement in regional peace and security, particularly in the Horn of Africa, a region increasingly central to Egypt’s foreign policy and Red Sea security interests.
In September 2025, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed that Egyptian forces will assume responsibility for Sector Five, which covers parts of the Middle Shabelle region. The Egyptian contingent will take over from Burundian forces scheduled to withdraw by the end of the year.
According to President Mohamud, the Egyptian troops will be deployed between the districts of Balcad and Mahaday, an area that has seen frequent clashes between Somali security forces and Al-Shabaab militants.
He dismissed earlier reports suggesting that Egyptian forces would deploy to the Gedo region near the Ethiopian border — an area already hosting Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) units operating under the AU mission.