Djibouti (SONNA) – Somalia and Djibouti have taken a major step toward strengthening regional security and counter-terrorism efforts with the signing of a Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA) that will allow for an expanded deployment of Djiboutian troops in Somalia.
The agreement was signed in Djibouti City by Somalia’s Minister of Defense, H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Djibouti’s Acting Minister of Defense, H.E. Ali Hassan Bahdoon. The SoFA outlines the legal and operational framework under which Djiboutian forces will operate in Somalia, reinforcing military cooperation between the two neighboring states.
The deal comes at a critical time, as Somalia prepares for the gradual drawdown of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and intensifies operations against al-Shabaab. Djiboutian troops, operating under the “Hiil Walaal” banner, are expected to play a key role in maintaining gains made in central Somalia and beyond.
During his visit, Minister Fiqi also held high-level talks with Djibouti’s President, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, focusing on defense cooperation, counter-terrorism, and broader regional stability. Minister Fiqi thanked President Guelleh for Djibouti’s continued leadership and the critical support its forces have provided in Somalia’s stabilization efforts.
The new troop agreement signals a deepening alliance between the two nations, underpinned by shared security interests and a common goal of fostering lasting peace in the Horn of Africa.
