The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad), said that the delay in the expected deployment of Egyptian troops to the African Union mission in Somalia was not due to political will or lack of preparation on the Egyptian side.
In an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Ali Balcad said that Egypt has clearly expressed its readiness to send its troops to Somalia, noting that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the Egyptian troops and inspected their level of readiness.
The Minister of State said that the challenge is to deploy the Egyptian troops to Somalia in accordance with the procedures and structures jointly approved by the African Union and the United Nations, which he said is essential for the mission.
He indicated that this includes the schedule for the transfer and rotation of troops, the preparation of logistics and transportation, operational requirements and other technical issues related to the mission.
Ali Balcad also noted that financial issues are part of the challenges facing the mission, especially in securing sustainable funding for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
“The issue is not a lack of political commitment from Egypt or an Egyptian lack of readiness,” the Minister of State said, insisting that both sides are ready for the troops to be part of the mission.
Finally, Ali Balcad said that the Somali government wants all plans and procedures necessary for the deployment of Egyptian troops to be completed as soon as possible, so that the troops can participate in security and stabilization efforts in Somalia.
