International partners and troop-contributing countries of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia express unease over Egypt’s growing influence in Somalia’s security arrangement. This unease stems from tensions in the Horn of Africa, with Egypt arming Somalia and sidelining Ethiopia in the security arrangement post the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. The presence of Egyptian troops in the new mission, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, is seen as a strategic move that could escalate tensions in the region.
Despite Egypt’s offer to deploy 10,000 troops to Aussom, concerns are raised about the potential disruption this may cause to the mission’s structure. The involvement of Egypt, a new ally to Somalia, raises geopolitical concerns and poses challenges to the cooperation between troop-contributing countries. The United Nations is expected to approve the mandate of Aussom, amid debates about funding and composition of the mission.