Somali Custodial Corps Officers Depart for Advanced Training in Egypt

MOGADISHU — The Somali Custodial Corps has held a farewell ceremony for officers departing for training in Cairo, Egypt, as part of ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen the country’s prison services.

The officers form the second group of Somali prison personnel to be sent to Egypt for training within a short period, as the Custodial Corps undergoes a broad reform programme aimed at strengthening its capabilities. The training is part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between Somalia and Egypt while improving the capacity and professionalism of Somalia’s custodial forces.

The Commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, Major General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, urged the officers to make full use of the training opportunity and apply the knowledge they gain to their work after returning to Somalia.

This training initiative follows a similar program in October 2024, when several Somali police officers traveled to Egypt for advanced training. Somali Police Force Commissioner Brig. Gen. Asad Osman bid farewell to those officers, emphasizing the importance of ongoing education and international collaboration. He said such opportunities allow the government to strengthen policing capabilities in Somalia, thus enhancing the force’s effectiveness in ensuring national security and stability.

Strengthening Somalia-Egypt Security Cooperation

The training program reflects deepening security cooperation between Somalia and Egypt. In May 2026, Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali met with Egypt’s Ambassador to Somalia, Mohamed Salah Hassan Keshtah, to discuss enhancing bilateral relations in diplomacy, regional security, education, and strategic coordination.

In February 2026, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Cairo for high-level talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, focusing on security, defense, and economic cooperation. A central theme was the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in January 2025. President El-Sisi confirmed that arrangements are in progress for the deployment of Egyptian forces to assist in maintaining security and stability across the country as part of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Somalia and Egypt have also deepened their diplomatic coordination, with Foreign Ministers Abdisalam Abdi Ali and Badr Abdelatty meeting in Seoul during the Korea-Africa Ministerial Meeting to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership. Egypt has repeatedly expressed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity, with Minister Abdelatty dismissing Israel’s purported recognition of Somaliland as an infringement upon Somalia’s internationally recognized boundaries.

Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and the army chief visited Egypt in November 2025 to enhance strategic relations and regional security collaboration, coinciding with Egypt’s preparations to send troops to Somalia. The visit followed a defense and security pact signed in August 2025 by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and President El-Sisi, permitting Egypt to station forces and set up military bases in Somalia.

Somalia and Egypt agreed to strengthen military and security cooperation in January 2025, with discussions focusing on enhancing collaboration in counter-terrorism, capacity building, and strategic defense initiatives.

Expanding Cooperation Across Multiple Sectors

Somali and Egyptian Foreign Ministers met in Baghdad in May 2025 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation, reaffirming Egypt’s steadfast support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and development. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation through joint initiatives, high-level visits, and coordination within regional and international forums.

Somalia and Egypt have also moved to deepen judicial partnership, with State Minister for Justice Ilyas Omar Ibrahim meeting Egypt’s Justice Minister Adnan Fangary on the sidelines of the 41st Arab Ministers of Justice Conference in Cairo. The discussions focused on expanding practical avenues for judicial collaboration, particularly in reforms that strengthen the rule of law and training programs that equip judges with modern skills.

Somalia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs participated in high-level ministerial meetings in Cairo, hosted by the International Labour Organization, to harmonize regional employment strategies with international standards. The minister reconfirmed Mogadishu’s commitment to building a transparent and strong labor market.

Somalia also participated in the High-Level Global South Media and Think Tank Forum in Cairo in May 2026, represented by the Director of the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), Ismail Mukhtar Omar “Oronjo.” The forum provided a platform for Global South countries to coordinate their media strategies and build partnerships.

Egypt has also delivered a significant consignment of heavy weapons to Somalia, which includes field guns and armored personnel carriers, as part of broader efforts to bolster Somalia’s security capabilities .

Critical Note

The training of Somali Custodial Corps officers in Egypt represents a positive step in strengthening Somalia’s prison services and deepening security cooperation between the two countries. The reform of the Custodial Corps is long overdue, and international support for capacity building is welcome.

However, the effectiveness of this training will depend on the government’s ability to retain trained personnel and provide them with the resources needed to apply their skills. The broader challenge facing Somalia’s prison system remains the lack of infrastructure, resources, and institutional capacity. The success of the reform programme will require sustained commitment from the government and international partners, as well as accountability and transparency in the use of resources.

The deepening security cooperation between Somalia and Egypt also reflects the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa, including growing Egyptian influence and regional competition with Ethiopia. While this partnership offers opportunities for capacity building, it also risks entangling Somalia in regional rivalries that may not align with its immediate interests. The Somali government must ensure that its security partnerships serve the country’s long-term stability and development goals, rather than becoming a tool for managing regional competitions.