Egypt is reported to be building up its military operation in Somalia before December 31, which coincides with the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia.
Cairo is also providing training to Somali forces in the war against al-Shabaab, sources told The National newspaper.
Egypt and Somalia, which are members of the Arab League based in Cairo, signed a military cooperation agreement in August.
Thousands of Egyptian personnel are expected to be involved in the military operation by the end of the year, according to the sources.
Both Egypt and Somalia are in conflict with Ethiopia. Cairo has complained that the Nile dam that Addis Ababa is building will reduce Egypt’s significant share of the river’s water.
Somalia has said that Ethiopia has violated its sovereignty, after it signed an agreement with Somaliland to give Addis Ababa a port and a military base on the Red Sea.
Egypt has announced that it wants to replace Ethiopia’s peacekeeping forces by the end of this year, with Somalia’s clear support.
Some of the Somali forces supported by Egyptian advisers, the sources said, have already been sent to the supply routes of the Ethiopian forces, to prevent, if necessary, any attempt by Addis Ababa to wants to send more troops to Somalia before it is time for them to leave.
Sources say that Ethiopia has increased its troops in Somalia, which are estimated at more than 4,000 soldiers, after Egypt started sending weapons and troops to Somalia.
