MOGADISHU — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Commander-in-Chief of the Somali Armed Forces, has received a comprehensive briefing from the Somali National Army Command on the overall state of the military, ongoing operations, and plans for modernization and capacity building.
The Commander of the Somali National Army, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, briefed the President on the latest operations against Al-Shabaab and the gains made in securing the country. The Commander also shared short and long-term plans for the development and modernization of the Somali National Army, aimed at equipping the forces with the full capacity to ensure national security and stability.
President Hassan Sheikh ordered the Army Command to double down on operations against Al-Shabaab and to accelerate efforts to modernize and strengthen the Somali National Army. The President emphasized the importance of the Somali National Army fully fulfilling its national duties of defending the country, securing peace, and protecting the Somali people.
Somali forces have been conducting intensified operations against Al-Shabaab, with a 72-hour planned security operation across the Buulo Cabdalla corridor in Lower Shabelle resulting in the death of 22 Al-Shabaab militants, including their regional commander.
NISA has also conducted intelligence-driven operations across central Somalia, with preemptive strikes destroying militant strongholds and thwarting several imminent attacks. The operations specifically targeted armed Kharijite elements gathering in the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.
The Danab Commandos are widely regarded as Somalia’s most capable special forces unit and have been at the forefront of the country’s counter-terrorism operations against Al-Shabaab. Trained and equipped with support from the United States, the Danab have conducted numerous high-intensity raids that have significantly degraded the militant group’s operational capacity.
The graduation builds on a series of capacity-building initiatives at military academies across Somalia, with the Danab Special Forces at the forefront of high-risk operations against Al-Shabaab.
Critical Note
The President’s briefing from the Army Command reflects the ongoing efforts to strengthen Somalia’s military capacity and intensify operations against Al-Shabaab. The Commander-in-Chief’s order to accelerate operations and modernization efforts comes at a critical time, as the country faces a complex security transition with the planned withdrawal of African Union troops.
However, the effectiveness of these efforts will depend on the government’s ability to provide adequate resources, training, and institutional support to the Somali National Army. The military has made significant progress in recent years, but challenges remain, including limited resources, logistical constraints, and the need for sustained international support.
The President’s emphasis on modernization and capacity building is welcome, but these efforts must be accompanied by broader reforms to address corruption, improve governance, and build public trust in the security sector. Without a comprehensive approach, the risk is that military gains will be undermined by governance failures and the inability to hold liberated areas.
