President Hassan Sheikh Graduates SNA Troops in Galgaduud as Government Expands Counter-Terrorism Capacity

XANANBUURE — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Somali Armed Forces, has presided over the graduation ceremony of new Somali National Army troops at the Xananbuure military training facility in the Galgaduud region.

The ceremony was attended by Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor), Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somali National Army Commander Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, members of parliament, military officials, and other dignitaries. The graduating troops presented a military parade and demonstrated their combat skills during the ceremony.

The graduation comes as the Federal Government continues to expand and professionalise the Somali National Army to assume greater responsibility for national security as the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) faces an uncertain future. The government has been intensifying military operations against Al-Shabaab in central and southern Somalia, with the Galgaduud region serving as a key staging ground for counter-terrorism operations.

The Somali National Army and AUSSOM have been working to expedite the implementation of the Security Transition Plan to facilitate the transfer of security responsibilities to Somali forces.

The SNA Commander has emphasized the importance of structural and institutional reforms within the national army to ensure a professional, disciplined force capable of defending the country without heavy external reliance.

Somali forces have intensified operations against Al-Shabaab in the Lower Shabelle region, with recent operations killing 22 militants including a commander.

Expanding Security Capacity

The graduation ceremony is part of broader efforts to build Somalia’s security capacity. The Federal Government has been working to professionalise the Somali National Army, with support from international partners including Turkey, the United States, and the African Union. The government has identified the development of a capable and professional national army as a priority in its National Transformation Plan.

The TURKSOM Military Academy in Mogadishu has trained over 5,000 Somali security personnel since its establishment in 2017. Turkish military advisors have been instrumental in training Somali commandos, including the elite Gorgor (Eagle) forces, and providing advanced equipment.

President Mohamud has commended graduating officers at the TURKSOM Academy and thanked Turkey for its continued support in developing and professionalising Somali forces. He noted that Turkey’s assistance has played a visible role in building a national army with the skills and capability to respond to the country’s security challenges.

Critical Note

While the graduation of new SNA troops represents progress in building Somalia’s security capacity, the challenges facing the military remain significant. The Somali National Army continues to face logistical constraints, intelligence gaps, and command-and-control weaknesses that have limited its effectiveness in sustained operations against Al-Shabaab. The reliance on international partners for training and equipment, while valuable, raises questions about the sustainability of these efforts in the absence of continued external support.

The government must ensure that the expansion of the military is accompanied by broader reforms, including improvements in logistics, intelligence, and institutional capacity. Without such systemic changes, the country risks over-relying on a small number of elite units while the wider military remains under-equipped and under-prepared. The international community, while supporting training programmes, must also press for accountability and transparency in the use of military resources to ensure that they serve the long-term goal of a stable, professional, and inclusive Somali security sector.