GAROWE (Kaab TV) – Somalia’s federal government, along with the African Union (AU), has requested the deployment of 2,500 Ethiopian troops to join the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to help protect Mogadishu from the rapid advance of Al-Shabaab militants.
Diplomatic sources have confirmed that Somalia made this request for Ethiopian infantry to assist in defending the capital from the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
The request comes amid a surge in Al-Shabaab attacks, including one targeting the convoy of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and an alarming advance by the militants, who have gained ground in several parts of the country.
The situation has been exacerbated by a growing internal rift among Somali clans, which has contributed to divisions within the Somali National Army (SNA).
These divisions have hindered the country’s ability to mount a unified and effective response to the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
As the militants continue their push, the lack of cohesion within the army has made it difficult to establish a strong defense against the ongoing threat.
While the request to Turkey for additional support has not received a prompt response, with the reasons for the delay remaining unclear, Egypt, a regional rival to Ethiopia, has pledged nearly 1,100 troops to AUSSOM, according to a recent UN Security Council report.
Intensifying militant attacks
AUSSOM, which replaced the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) at the beginning of this year, remains constrained by significant funding issues despite backing from the AU and the UN.
A report from August 2024 reveals that fewer than 13,000 of the 20,000 troops originally committed to ATMIS remain on the ground in Somalia, further limiting the mission’s effectiveness.
The mission is scheduled to operate until the end of 2028.
These developments come as Al-Shabaab has been intensifying its attacks, and Somali forces have faced increasing difficulties in coordinating a cohesive defense.
The Somali government, alongside Ethiopian and US air forces, has been conducting airstrikes against Al-Shabaab strongholds.
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces have been deployed near Ferfer for planned operations, and US airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab militants have increased significantly since the Trump administration took office.
However, the growing fragmentation within the Somali military and the persistence of internal clan divisions continue to undermine efforts to fully counter the militant threat.