Egypt Emerges as Key Partner in Rebuilding Somalia’s Air Force

CAIRO — Somalia’s Air Force Commander Brigadier General Abdirisaq Mahmoud Haji met with Egypt’s Air Force Commander Air Marshal Amr Abd El Rahman Sakr to discuss expanding cooperation in training, equipment, capability development and the rebuilding of Somalia’s Air Force, according to reports from the Somali Dispatch News.

The meeting comes as Somalia accelerates the rebuilding of its national military, with growing efforts to develop the Army, Air Force and Navy, including the training and professional development of Somali officers through international partnerships. Somalia’s expanding focus on air and maritime capabilities marks a significant step toward rebuilding a more complete national defense structure, with Egypt emerging as an important partner alongside Somalia’s other military training relationships.

Deepening Somalia-Egypt Defence Ties

The Air Force commanders’ meeting is the latest in a series of high-level engagements between Somali and Egyptian military officials. In August 2025, Somali State Minister of Defence Omar Ali Abdi and SNA Land Forces Commander Major General Sahal Abdullahi Omar held discussions with Egypt’s Defence Attaché, Colonel Ahmed Fathi Al-Husseini, focusing on military training, capacity building, and Egypt’s upcoming troop deployment under AUSSOM.

The defence relationship has yielded tangible outcomes, with Egypt contributing military weapons and equipment to Somalia as part of efforts to bolster the Somali National Army’s operational capacity. In August 2025, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi signed a defence agreement described by the Somali president as a “testament to a future of common defence against international terrorism.”

Egypt’s President El-Sisi has reaffirmed Cairo’s support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, with Egypt committing to deploy forces to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Egyptian troops are expected to be stationed in the Middle Shabelle region, one of the most volatile areas still grappling with Al-Shabaab insurgents.

Somalia and Egypt have also deepened cooperation in military training. Reports indicate that Egyptian and Turkish instructors have jointly trained Somali recruits, with the first cohort of specialized troops expected to deploy from Mogadishu. This collaboration reflects Somalia’s strategy of leveraging multiple international partnerships to rebuild its security forces.

Broader Regional Dynamics

Egypt’s growing military engagement with Somalia is part of a broader regional strategy to reinforce alliances in the Red Sea corridor and counter challenges to stability in the Horn of Africa. The diplomatic engagement between Mogadishu and Cairo has continued even as regional tensions have heightened, with Ethiopia expressing concerns over Egyptian involvement in Somalia.

The Somalia-Egypt defence relationship builds on historical ties dating back to the 1960s, when Cairo trained Somali officers. Egypt was among the first countries to recognize Somali independence in 1960 and provided significant military assistance during the early years of the Somali state.

Critical Note

The meeting between Somalia’s and Egypt’s Air Force commanders signals Somalia’s ambition to build a comprehensive military capability that includes air power, not just ground forces. Egypt’s willingness to support this effort reflects Cairo’s interest in deepening its footprint in the Horn of Africa and countering rival influences in the region.

However, rebuilding an air force is a costly and technically demanding undertaking. It requires not only aircraft and equipment but also trained pilots, maintenance crews, air traffic control systems, and infrastructure. Somalia currently lacks most of these foundational elements, and the path to a functioning air force will be long and expensive.

The deepening military relationship with Egypt also carries geopolitical risks. Egypt’s involvement in Somalia is closely tied to its dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and its concerns about Ethiopian influence in the region. As Somalia strengthens ties with Cairo, it risks becoming entangled in the broader Egypt-Ethiopia rivalry, potentially complicating its relationships with other regional powers.

For Somalia, the challenge will be to manage these partnerships in a way that advances its own security interests without becoming a proxy in wider regional competition. Building capable national forces that can eventually operate independently should remain the ultimate objective, rather than dependency on any single external partner.