Somali Army troops graduate from a Combat course in built up areas

Over 100 soldiers from Somali National Army (SNA) graduated from an infantry course on combat skills on Saturday at Jazeera camp in Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu.

The soldiers were trained by European Union Training Mission (EUTM) which supports Somalia on the rebuilding Somali forces.

The troops learnt combat engineering, light infantry and the use Information Communication Technologies.

During, the trainees demonstrated their combat skills in fighting in built up areas, mine and IEDs clearance.

The trainees will be co-located with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops for continuous training and mentoring.

Maurizio Morena, the Commander of EUTM in Somalia said EUTM will conduct the next phase of training jointly with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“We are going to train 300 soldiers in four months to provide another additional capability to SNA,” Morena said.

“Together with the (AMISOM) Force Commander, we have decided to share the same training programme, the same schedule; and our trainers are also speaking with AMISOM trainers to get the same view on the training,” explained Morena.

Ali Bashi Mohamed, the SNA Deputy Chief of Defence Forces hailed the European Union (EU), for the support it has accorded the Somali army over the years.

“My message to the SNA soldiers that have completed training today is that you are not returning to your former places of work. I expect you to also forget about your clan and religious allegiances. You are the best soldiers that SNA has today,”. Bashi told the graduates.

AMISOM will also train one hundred in light infantry, according to statement posted on AMIOSM twitter on Saturday.

“This is the beginning of the integration of the Guulwade Plan. We will take this as an example and we will replicate it. AMISOM is also going to train 150 in light infantry which will (be in line with) Guulwade Plan,” Osman Noor Soubagleh, the AMISOM Force Commander said,