The Somali Government and the African Union (AU) have reached on February 25 a final agreement regarding troop contributions for the new AU Mission in Somalia, following weeks of diplomatic tensions.
Disagreements had previously arisen between Ethiopia and Somalia, and later between Somalia and Burundi, over the number of troops each country would contribute. An AU official confirmed that Burundian forces, which have been in Somalia since 2007, will withdraw due to unresolved issues over troop numbers. The new Mission, named the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), will have 11,900 personnel, including soldiers, police, and civilian support staff.
The agreed troop allocations are as follows: 4,500 soldiers from Uganda, 2,500 from Ethiopia, 1,520 from Djibouti, 1,410 from Kenya, and 1,091 from Egypt. The departure of Burundi’s forces marks a significant development, with one AU diplomat noting the political and financial implications of the withdrawal. Discussions are ongoing regarding Burundi’s exit, with concerns about their contributions and the need to address their grievances. In addition to the military personnel, several hundred police officers from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Egypt will be deployed to key locations in Somalia, including Mogadishu, Jowhar, and Baidoa.
The finalization of troop contributions was delayed by a diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over a controversial sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. However, tensions were eased after a breakthrough agreement in December, mediated by Turkey.
This week, a new agreement was signed between Somalia and Ethiopia, securing the participation of Ethiopian troops in the AUSSOM mission. Ethiopian troops will be deployed in areas where they have previously operated, such as Gedo, Bay, Bakool, and Hiran regions. Additionally, a bilateral agreement will ensure the continued presence of Ethiopian forces outside the AU mission framework, with a Status of Force Agreement (SOFA) to be developed for all bilateral forces in Somalia.