By Goth Mohamed Goth
DHUSAMAREB, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday attended the graduation ceremony for thousands of Somali National Army (SNA) recruits who completed nearly a year of basic military training at the Hananbuure training center in the Galguduud region of Galmudug state.
The graduating soldiers, recruited from across Somalia, represent one of the largest cohorts to complete basic military training in the country since the collapse of the central government in 1991.
During their training, the recruits received instruction in military skills, discipline and ethics, combat tactics and regulations, as well as other essential competencies required for service in the national army.
President Mohamud described the graduation as a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to rebuild Somalia’s armed forces and restore state institutions. He urged the new soldiers to uphold the reputation of the military and protect Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and national interests.
The ceremony was attended by Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, Somalia’s Defense Minister, the Minister of Public Works, members of the Federal Parliament, the Commander of the Somali National Army, regional officials from Galguduud, and other government representatives.
While the government did not disclose the exact number of soldiers who graduated or identify the countries and institutions that supported the training program, reports indicate that nearly 5,000 soldiers completed the training under a defense and military cooperation agreement signed between Somalia and Saudi Arabia in February.
The agreement is intended to strengthen military and defense cooperation between the two nations, though many implementation details have not been made public.
According to reports, the training involved foreign instructors from Romania, Ukraine, South Africa, and Colombia, and was financed by Saudi Arabia. Saudi military officials have reportedly visited Somali training centers to assess the program’s progress.
Neither the Somali nor Saudi governments have publicly confirmed details regarding the reported funding, the nationalities of instructors, or the specific number of soldiers involved.
Saudi Arabia’s reported role comes as Gulf countries expand their security and military engagement in Somalia, where the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have also played significant roles.
Saudi Arabia’s reported backing of the latest military training program adds another dimension to the growing regional involvement in Somalia’s security sector, as the federal government seeks to expand the capacity of the national army and gradually reduce its reliance on foreign forces.
