DJIBOUTI CITY (Dawan Africa) – The government of Djibouti has officially deployed 373 soldiers as part of its contribution to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The new contingent is expected to strengthen Djiboutian military presence in central Somalia, particularly in the Hiiraan and Galgaduud regions.
The troops were deployed on Wednesday, departing from Djibouti’s international airport following a send-off ceremony attended by senior military officials, including Chief of Defence Forces General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim.
According to Djibouti’s state television, the newly rotated forces will be deployed to reinforce units already stationed in central Somalia under the AUSSOM mandate. The soldiers underwent pre-deployment training in Djibouti in preparation for stabilization and peacekeeping operations.
In an official statement posted on Facebook , the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) said:
"They are now two reinforced contingents holding together the frontline of peace. They are leaving the country as part of the mission to restore peace in Somalia and with the support and encouragement of the entire Republic of Djibouti."
This deployment comes a week after Djibouti and Somalia signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which authorizes continued troop presence and legal cooperation under the AUSSOM framework.
Djibouti became the third country to join the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia, officially entering in December 2011. Its forces have since maintained a presence in Hiiraan and Galgaduud, supporting military stabilization, capacity-building, and humanitarian efforts.
The African Union’s current transition mission, AUSSOM, replaced ATMIS in January 2025.
AUSSOM is mandated to gradually hand over security responsibilities to Somali national forces while continuing to support political dialogue, state-building, and civilian protection.
