A high-level military delegation from Egypt, in Mogadishu, has begun an official visit aimed at accelerating plans to deploy Egyptian troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The delegation, consisting of 16 officers from the Egyptian Armed Forces, is led by the Commander-in-Chief, General Islam Radwan, and was officially welcomed by ATMIS officials and Somali National Army officers.
During the meeting, the Egyptian delegation held formal meetings with ATMIS leaders led by Ambassador Al-Haj Ibrahim Dine, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The delegation also attended a comprehensive security briefing at the ATMIS headquarters in Mogadishu.
The delegation is expected to conduct various inspections in the coming days to examine key locations where Egyptian troops may be deployed, as part of the preparations for the deployment of these troops.
This move demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to its political and security role in the Horn of Africa, especially at a time when Somalia is facing a transition period in security responsibility following the gradual withdrawal of ATMIS forces.
Egypt also sees Somalia as a strategic location, making strengthening relations between the two countries a matter of development.
It is felt that Egypt wants to increase its presence in the region, while the dispute with Ethiopia over the Nile River Dam (GERD Dam) remains unresolved.
