Somali’s Gedo region officials  have voiced strong opposition to the African Union’s (AU) plans to deploy Egyptian forces as part of a new mission starting in January 2025. The regional leaders, who are under Jubaland State, have promised to resist any efforts to bring Egyptian troops into their area.

Colonel Ali Abshir of the Somali National Army, who is currently defending the Gedo region, stated that any attempt to bring in Egyptian forces would face resistance. He compared the situation to their fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, emphasizing that they would not allow Egyptian forces to enter the region without a fight.

Colonel Abshir criticized Egypt for not supporting Somalia during its past crises, suggesting that Egypt’s sudden interest in Somalia is due to its growing tensions with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He stressed that Somalia would not be used as a pawn in a conflict that could harm its relationship with Ethiopia, a neighbor with whom Somalia shares a strong bond, especially in their joint efforts against Al-Shabaab.

Gedo officials, including Ali Juba, a spokesperson for Jubaland State, reiterated their peaceful relationship with Ethiopia. They warned that no one wants to create conflict in their homeland, where their families live, and urged Egypt to avoid using Somalia as a pretext to escalate tensions with Ethiopia.

The AU recently announced that Djibouti and Egypt had offered to join the new African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the current mission by January 2025. However, Gedo leaders fear that the presence of Egyptian forces could lead to further instability in the region.