In Kampala, Uganda, a gathering of African leaders concluded on Friday with a strong call for increased deployment of peacekeepers to Somalia. The focus was on countering the persistent threat posed by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab militant group, which has been a source of continuous unrest in the Horn of Africa.
The leaders’ meeting, held in Uganda’s capital, resulted in a statement that suggested the potential inclusion of Egyptian troops to bolster the peacekeeping efforts. Currently, over 10,000 African Union troops are stationed in Somalia, with nearly 50% of them originating from Uganda. These troops operate under mandates authorized by the United Nations Security Council, with peacekeeping missions first being dispatched in 2007.
This latest mission, branded as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, is encountering hurdles related to funding and squabbles within the region concerning country participation in troop deployments. There is a push from Somali authorities for inclusion of Egyptian forces, although notably not those from Ethiopia. Tensions have marked Egyptian-Ethiopian relations, chiefly due to Ethiopia’s construction of a massive $4 billion dam on the Blue Nile, which Egypt fears will alter its share of Nile River waters.
For over 15 years now, al-Shabab insurgents have been striving to unseat Somalia’s government, which enjoys backing from international entities. The militant group continues to execute lethal attacks, including bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia’s coastal capital, despite concerted offensives by government troops and routine airstrikes carried out by the United States.
Addressing the leaders in Kampala, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underscored the critical stage at which the government offensive currently stands, emphasizing the necessity for sustained global support. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni suggested that Somalia amplify its efforts by enlisting citizens as volunteers to combat al-Shabab. Museveni cautioned that merely relying on a small Somali national army, complemented by a limited AU contingent, could perpetuate the security challenges facing Somalia.