The Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has hailed a landmark achievement in Somalia’s military history following the graduation of Captain Mohamed Muse Mohamed from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom — the first Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) officer to do so in four decades.
A formal ceremony was held in his honour, organized by the British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, alongside the UK Defense Attaché, Captain James Edwards. Senior Somali military officials, including Brigadier General Abdullahi Adan Hussein Irro, Deputy Commander of SNAF Land Forces, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the British Embassy, were also in attendance.
Fiqi congratulated Captain Mohamed Muse for his dedication and professional excellence, describing his success as a significant step toward enhancing the capabilities and standards of the Somali National Armed Forces. He emphasized that the officer’s accomplishment reflects the growing ambition and reform-minded spirit within Somalia’s defense institutions.
He further praised the United Kingdom for its long-standing partnership with Somalia, particularly in military training, security cooperation, and institutional strengthening. The minister noted that such collaborations are vital in building a modern, professional, and effective national defense force.
Captain Muse’s graduation marks a symbolic return of Somali officers to one of the world’s most prestigious military academies, reinforcing the momentum of Somalia’s ongoing security sector reforms.