Mogadishu, Somalia – Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre presided over a graduation ceremony on Thursday for a new cohort of elite Somali commandos, known as GorGor, who have undergone specialized training provided by Türkiye.
The event took place in the capital, Mogadishu, and marked a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between Somalia and Turkey to bolster the East African nation’s security sector.
The GorGor forces are part of Somalia’s elite units tasked with conducting counterterrorism operations, protecting key national assets, and supporting the Somali National Army (SNA) in its efforts to stabilize the country.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Barre delivered a speech applauding the dedication of the newly graduated troops and the steadfast support from Ankara.
“Today’s graduation is not just a celebration of new defenders of the Somali nation—it is a powerful reflection of the strong and growing cooperation between Somalia and our Turkish brothers. Turkey has played a pivotal role in equipping our forces with the skills and discipline needed to face terrorism and maintain national security,” PM Barre said.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to building a professional, well-equipped national army that can eventually take full responsibility for the country’s security as international peacekeeping missions, such as ATMIS, gradually withdraw.
The Turkish-trained GorGor units have been instrumental in conducting successful operations against the al-Shabaab militant group in recent years.
The training program, which is part of a broader bilateral military agreement signed between Mogadishu and Ankara, includes tactical combat, intelligence operations, logistics, and leadership development.
Turkey, a key strategic ally of Somalia, operates a major military training facility in Mogadishu—Turksom—where hundreds of Somali soldiers have received advanced instruction since 2017.
Ankara also provides humanitarian, economic, and infrastructural support to Somalia, deepening a relationship that spans over a decade.
The latest graduation boosts morale within Somalia’s defense establishment and sends a strong signal of continued cooperation in the fight against extremism.
Senior military officials, Turkish representatives, and family members of the graduates also attended the ceremony.