Mogadishu, Somalia – Brig. Gen. Marco Manzone officially assumed command of the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S) from Brigadier General Giuseppe Zizzari during a formal change-of-command ceremony held on Friday in Mogadishu.
The handover was presided over by Lieutenant General Michiel van der Laan, the Director of the EU Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), who emphasized the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia’s security sector reform and military capacity building.
The ceremony brought together Somali military officials, EU representatives, and international partners. In his farewell address, Brigadier General Zizzari reflected on EUTM-S’s achievements under his leadership, including enhanced collaboration with the Somali National Army (SNA) and sustained progress in professional military training despite operational challenges.
Brig. Gen. Manzone, an experienced officer with previous missions in crisis management and international security, pledged to deepen cooperation with Somali authorities and maintain the EU’s focus on strengthening institutional capabilities within the defense sector.
“This mission remains vital to Somalia’s stability and long-term peace. We will continue to support Somali-led solutions in building a credible, accountable, and effective national military,” said Brig. Gen. Manzone.
Since its launch in 2010, EUTM-S has trained thousands of Somali soldiers and supported the development of command structures, military justice systems, and strategic planning capacities. The mission operates within the broader EU strategy for engagement in the Horn of Africa, aimed at countering terrorism and supporting regional peace and development.
The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time as Somalia assumes more responsibility for its own security amid the gradual drawdown of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).