UN approval of new African Union mission in Somalia legitimizes Egypt’s deployment of troops to the region

On December 27^th, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution authorizing a new African Union mission to Somalia to fight Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, according to the AFP.

The resolution comes months after Egypt reportedly began sending troops and equipment to Mogadishu at Somalia’s request. The two countries signed a defense pact in August.

Egyptian troops are expected to constitute a significant portion of the new mission’s forces with reports indicating that Egypt plans to deploy up to 10,000 soldiers, half of whom will join the African Union mission, while the other half will operate under a bilateral agreement with Somalia.

Somalia’s previous AU mission relied heavily on Ethiopian troops. But Somalia reportedly wants to exclude Ethiopian troops from the new mission after being deemed ineffective at containing al-Shabab.

The stance is also a reflection of rising tensions between the neighboring nations. The relationship took a nosedive a year ago after Ethiopia reportedly agreed to recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland in exchange for a lease on the Red Sea to set up a naval base. Turkey has been mediating in that conflict and talks are set to resume in February, according to the BBC. 

Egypt has also been at loggerheads with Ethiopia over the establishment of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that opened four years ago. Egypt feels that it threatens its water supply.

Egypt’s new military presence in Somalia occurs amid escalating competition among foreign powers for strategic positions along Africa's Red Sea coast. This development is set against a backdrop of regional tensions fueled by Sudan's civil war, terrorism, tribal unrest in Ethiopia, and the economic impacts of climate change