Ten Officers Complete EUCAP Somalia Leadership Course to Strengthen Federal Darwish

MOGADISHU — The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) conducted a Platoon Leaders Course from August 30 to September 10, 2026, preparing ten Federal Darwish officers to lead the upcoming sixth cohort.

The participants, eight men and two women, completed a curriculum covering leadership and management, gender, human rights, environmental matters and the legal framework, alongside conflict management, situational awareness, policing and anti-corruption.

The course also included tabletop leadership exercises and practical operational training. According to EUCAP Somalia, participants demonstrated great interest, skill and motivation throughout the programme.

Building Sustainable Training Capacity

The Platoon Leaders Course is part of EUCAP Somalia’s broader effort to develop sustainable local training capacities within Somalia’s security institutions. The European Union has extended its three key security and defence missions in Somalia until February 28, 2027, demonstrating continued commitment to enhancing security, stability and governance in the country.

EUCAP Somalia has also provided equipment donations to Somali maritime institutions, including advanced communication equipment to the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mogadishu, enhancing Somalia’s ability to respond to maritime emergencies and coordinate rescues.

The mission has also supported training for Somali maritime officers on Vessel Traffic Management and Information Systems, with 16 officers participating in a ten-day programme aimed at improving maritime domain awareness across Somalia’s territorial waters.

Federal Darwish Graduation and Deployment

The Federal Darwish, a stabilisation force under the Ministry of Internal Security, has been trained with EU support at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia. Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama has previously commended the European Union’s pivotal role in Somalia’s stabilization during the inaugural federal-level Darawish graduation ceremony held in Mogadishu, where newly graduated officers trained under the EUCAP Somalia program represented a significant advancement in Somalia’s security sector reform.

The Federal Government has also been working to integrate regional forces into unified national security structures, including a recent agreement to provide South West Darwish forces with rights equal to those of the national army following their reintegration. The process was overseen by the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Mahad Mohamed Salad, and the Commander of the Somali Police Force, Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi, alongside federal and regional leaders.

Analysts note that successful integration could help reduce fragmentation within Somalia’s security sector, while reinforcing efforts to build a cohesive national army capable of maintaining stability across the country.

European Union Support for Somalia’s Security Sector

EUCAP Somalia and EUTM Somalia have also hosted international delegations, including a senior delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands in April 2026, reflecting broader international engagement with Somalia’s security sector. Both missions operate under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy.

The European Union Training Mission in Somalia recently commemorated its 16th anniversary, highlighting a steadfast, long-term commitment to developing capable, professional, and accountable Somali Security Forces. Since its formal launch on April 7, 2010, the mission has served as a critical cornerstone in the advancement of the nation’s defense sector.

Somalia and the European Union have also strengthened military ties in high-level defence talks, with Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi convening a meeting with a delegation from the European Union Training Mission in Somalia to reinforce the strategic partnership between the EU and Somalia in the security sector.

Critical Note

The Platoon Leaders Course reflects EUCAP Somalia’s continued investment in building the Federal Darwish’s capacity to operate effectively as a stabilisation force. The inclusion of women in the training programme, as well as the focus on human rights, gender and anti-corruption, reflects a broader recognition that effective policing requires not just tactical skills but also institutional integrity and accountability.

However, the long-term effectiveness of this training will depend on whether the Federal Darwish is adequately resourced, supported and integrated into Somalia’s broader security architecture. The Federal Darwish operates in some of the most challenging environments in the country, and its ability to carry out community-oriented policing in newly liberated areas will be a critical test of Somalia’s stabilisation strategy.

EUCAP Somalia’s mission, along with other EU security and defence missions, has been extended until 2027, providing continuity of support. Yet, sustaining these gains beyond the mission’s mandate will require Somalia to assume greater responsibility for training, equipping and retaining its security personnel, a challenge that will require sustained political commitment and investment.