Mogadishu, Somalia – A new class of the Somali Police Force’s elite Crisis Response Team (CRT), trained under a U.S.-backed program, officially graduated on Wednesday in Mogadishu, marking another step in strengthening Somalia’s counterterrorism capabilities.
The CRT, a specialized rapid-reaction unit, is tasked with responding to terrorist incidents, hostage situations, and high-risk operations. The latest graduation follows months of intensive training conducted with support from U.S. security experts.
Officials emphasized that the program aims to enhance Somalia’s ability to independently tackle threats posed by armed groups, particularly Al-Shabaab, whose attacks continue to target civilians, government institutions, and security personnel.
U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Somalia’s stabilization efforts, noting that the training initiative was designed to help build a self-sustaining unit capable of swiftly responding to terror incidents and safeguarding Somali citizens.
The graduation comes at a critical time as Somalia navigates a major security transition with the African Union’s peacekeeping forces drawing down and the Somali National Army and Police assuming greater responsibility for national security.
Security analysts view the CRT as a vital component of Somalia’s evolving security architecture, bridging immediate counterterrorism needs with long-term institution building.
The Somali Police Force leadership pledged that the newly graduated officers will be deployed strategically across high-risk areas, ensuring rapid response capacity in the face of ongoing threats.
This latest milestone underscores the deepening partnership between Somalia and the United States in counterterrorism cooperation, reinforcing joint efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.