MOGADISHU — Somalia’s recently appointed army chief, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, has dismissed four battalion commanders from the elite Gorgor special forces this week. The dismissals follow internal opposition to new financial measures supported by Turkey, which currently trains, equips, and funds the specialized unit.
Controversial Stipend Cuts
The core of the dispute centers on a new policy being implemented by the Turkish government that would suspend the financial stipends of soldiers if they are injured, hospitalized, or become disabled in combat.
Ankara currently provides a direct monthly stipend of $100 to rank-and-file soldiers in the Gorgor commando force, with higher amounts allocated to officers based on their rank. Under the controversial new conditions, this critical financial support would be immediately halted for personnel wounded on the frontlines.
Leadership Shakeup
This financial proposal was previously presented to the former Somali army commander, Major General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh. Rageh explicitly refused to implement the cuts, reportedly questioning how soldiers could be expected to fight effectively if they knew their pay would be severed in the event of a battlefield injury. His subsequent removal and replacement by the younger, Turkish-trained Brigadier General Mohamud is attributed by observers to pressure from Ankara.
This week, the new commander proceeded to enforce the exact measures his predecessor had resisted. The four dismissed battalion commanders had fiercely protested the policy, and their removal clears the way for compliant replacements who will accept the stipend reductions.
Expanding Turkish Footprint
The leadership shakeup arrives amid a rapid expansion of Turkey’s military and political presence in Somalia. In recent years, Ankara has deeply integrated itself into the federal government’s institutions and security structures.
Beyond its primary military academy in Mogadishu, Turkey has established a new naval training base near the coastal town of Adale in the Middle Shabelle region. Turkish forces and Gorgor units have already been deployed to secure the area, and offshore patrol boats are actively monitoring the adjacent waters. According to local journalists and previous government announcements, this militarization of the Adale coast is linked to Ankara’s plans to construct a massive commercial spaceport in the area.
