Transformation of the African Union Mission in Somalia

As the AMISOM mission prepares for this transition, the Somali government has expressed intentions to reduce the presence of Ethiopian troops, which have been in Somalia since 2007 as part of efforts to combat the militant group al-Shabab. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has publicly criticized Ethiopia’s actions, accusing it of undermining Somalia’s sovereignty and exacerbating tensions in the region. The recent military cooperation between Somalia and Egypt, highlighted by arms shipments from Egypt, has further complicated the dynamics, with analysts suggesting that these developments could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa. The involvement of external actors like Egypt in Somalia’s security matters is viewed with concern by Ethiopian officials, who argue that such maneuvers threaten regional stability.