US trains elite forces for counter-terrorism in Somalia
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 15-04-2024, 02:03PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) ushered in the 10th batch of Danab Special Forces, a contingent trained by Americans and which plays an integral role in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants who are fighting to topple the government of Somalia.
The US, a major security and development partner of Somalia, has invested in training and equipping the Special Forces to assist the country in assuming full security responsibilities in the coming months as foreign troops leave.
At Colonel Hassan Tuure Training School formerly known as Ballidigle, dozens of new trainees were received by Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, who has been monitoring the fight against Al-Shabaab across the country.
"Defense Minister Mohamed Nur took the lead in the ceremonial graduation of the 10th batch of Danab Commandos’ 16th Battalion, which was held at the Colonel Hassan Tuure Training School (Ex Balidogle) in the Lower Shabelle region this Sunday."
The Danab commandos are paid by the United States, which has traditionally helped local troops to stabilize through hardware support and intense training. The US army has been working in Somalia for the last three decades after the collapse of Siad Barre.
After a brief exit in 2021, the soldiers returned in 2022 after the decree which was signed by President Joe Biden, and have since heightened drone strikes against the al-Shabab militants. On Sunday, another airstrike was reported in the Hiiran region.
Their graduation comes as the Somali National Army celebrates its 64th anniversary since its establishment, a milestone which was acknowledged by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last week, who hailed the soldiers for their resilience and perseverance in keeping the country safe.
Hassan Sheikh emphasized the significant progress made by the government in advocating for the removal of the arms embargo, which he believes is crucial for the advancement and strengthening of the nation's military capabilities.
GAROWE ONLINE
