Egypt is training Somali special forces personnel, according to Somali news sources, while preparing to establish a military base near the former Cisiley airfield in Middle Shabelle, north of Mogadishu, ahead of the expected arrival of Egyptian troops.
Somali special forces have been undergoing advanced training in Egypt. Pictures have been shared of Somali soldiers standing in front of an Egyptian C-130 transport plane.
Deepening Egyptian-Somali security cooperation:
Egypt and Somalia have strengthened their security ties in recent years. In 2025, Egypt joined the new African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), taking over positions previously held by Ethiopian forces.
In 2024, following Ethiopia’s memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, Egypt emerged as one of the strongest advocates for Somalia’s territorial integrity under the “One Somalia” principle. Cairo provided weapons to the Somali Armed Forces and publicly condemned the agreement as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.