Baidoa, Somalia – The Federal Government of Somalia has officially received a newly constructed UK-funded military training facility in Baidoa, a strategic city in the South West State. The handover ceremony took place on Friday, attended by Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and the British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles Nicholas King.
The modern training center is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing the operational readiness and professionalism of the Somali National Army (SNA), particularly in its fight against Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups destabilizing the country.
Speaking at the event, Fiqi hailed the United Kingdom’s continued support for Somalia’s security sector reform, calling the training facility “a crucial asset in building a capable and self-reliant national army.” He emphasized that the new center would enable more effective, locally led training of Somali forces in accordance with national defense objectives.
Amb. King reaffirmed the UK’s long-standing partnership with Somalia, noting that “stability in Somalia is critical for the wider Horn of Africa and global security.” He stated that the facility is part of broader UK efforts to support state-building, counter-terrorism, and the rule of law in Somalia.
Located near Baidoa Airport, the center includes classrooms, barracks, and administrative offices, all designed to accommodate specialized infantry training, tactical operations, and leadership development for SNA personnel. The center will be jointly operated with support from UK military advisors, with a long-term goal of transitioning full control to Somali authorities.
This handover follows years of collaboration between the UK and Somalia through the British Army’s presence under the UK Mission Support Team and contributes to ongoing efforts to professionalize Somalia’s security forces ahead of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) withdrawal.
With Somalia continuing to face persistent security challenges, the Baidoa facility represents a tangible step forward in national capacity building and the broader push for security self-reliance.