National Army of Somalia

Training and facilities

Brigadier General Dahir Adan Elmi, Chief of Defence Force, while meeting with Commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in 2013

SNAF Parade on Somali Armed Forces day in 2016

In November 2009, the European Union announced its intention to train two Somali battalions (around 2,000 troops), which would complement other training missions and bring the total number of better-trained Somali soldiers to 6,000.^[1] The two battalions were expected to be ready by August 2011.^[2] In April 2011, 1,000 recruits completed training in Uganda as a part of the agreement with the EU.^[3]

Powerful vested interests and corrupt commanders were, as of February 2011, the largest obstacle to reforming the army. Some newly delivered weaponry was sold by officers. The International Crisis Group also said that AMISOM's efforts at assisting in formalizing the military's structure and providing training to the estimated 8,000 SNA soldiers were problematic. Resistance continued to the establishment of an effective chain of command, logical military formations and a credible troop roster. Although General Mohamed Gelle Kahiye, the respected former army chief, attempted to instill reforms, he was marginalized and eventually dismissed.^[4]

In August 2011, as part of the European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM Somalia), 900 Somali soldiers graduated from the Bihanga Military Training School in the Ibanda District of Uganda.^[5][6] 150 personnel from the EU took part in the training process, which trained around 2,000 Somali troops per year.^[6] In May 2012, 603 Somali army personnel completed training at the facility. They were the third batch of Somali nationals to be trained there under the auspices of EUTM Somalia.^[7] In total, the EU mission had trained 3,600 Somali soldiers, before permanently transferring all of its advisory, mentoring and training activities to Mogadishu in December 2013.^[8]

In September 2011, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed laid down the foundation for a new military camp for the army in the Jazeera District of Mogadishu. The $3.2 million construction project was funded by the EU and was expected to take six months to complete.^[9]

In June 2013, Egyptian engineers arrived to build new headquarters for the Somalia Ministry of Defence.^[10]

In February 2014, EUTM Somalia began its first "Train the Trainers" programme at the Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu. 60 Somali National Army soldiers that had been previously trained by EUTM in Uganda would take part in a four-week refresher course on infantry techniques and procedures, including international humanitarian law and military ethics. The training would be conducted by 16 EU trainers. Following the course's completion, the Somali soldiers would be qualified as instructors to then train SNA recruits, with mentoring provided by EUTM Somalia personnel.^[11] A team of EUTM Somalia advisors also started offering strategic advice to the Somali Ministry of Defence and General Staff. Additionally, capacity building, advice and specific mentoring with regard to security sector development and training are envisioned for 2014.^[12]

In February 2014, Chief of Staff Brigadier General Dahir Adan Elmi announced that Somalia's Ministry of Defence began holding military training inside the country for the first time, with Somali instructors now teaching courses to units that joined the armed forces. He also indicated that SNA leaders had created new numbered units for the army, and that the soldiers were slated to have their respective name and unit placed on their uniform. Additionally, Elmi stated that the military had implemented a new biometric registration system, wherein each recently trained and armed soldier is photographed and fingerprinted.^[13] By the end of 2014, 17,000 national army soldiers and police officers had registered for the new biometric remuneration system.^[14] 13,829 SNA soldiers and 5,134 Somali Police Force officials were biometrically registered in the system as of May 2015.^[15]

In July 2014, the governments of the United States and France announced that they would start providing training to the Somali National Army.^[16] According to U.S. Defense Department officials, American military advisers are also stationed in Somalia.^[17]

In September 2014, 20 Somali federal soldiers began training courses in Djibouti, which were organized by the government of Djibouti.^[18]

In September 2014, a Somali government delegation led by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed attended an international conference in London hosted by the British government, which centered on rebuilding the Somali National Army and strengthening the security sector in Somalia. Ahmed presented to the participants his administration's plan for the development of Somalia's military, as well as fiscal planning, human rights protection, arms embargo compliance, and ways to integrate regional militias. The summit also aimed to increase financial support for the Somali military. British Prime Minister David Cameron in turn indicated that the meeting sought to outline a long-term security plan to strengthen Somalia's army, police and judiciary.^[19]

In March 2015, the Federal Cabinet agreed to establish a new commission tasked with overseeing the nationalization and integration of security forces in the country.^[20] In April 2015, the Commission on Regional Militia Integration presented its plan for the formal integration of regional forces, with UNSOM providing support and strategic advice.^[15]

In April 2015, the federal Ministry of Defence launched its new Guulwade Plan (Victory Plan), which provides a roadmap for long-term development of the military. It was formulated with technical support from UNSOM. The framework stipulates that international partners are slated to provide capacity-building as well as assistance for joint operations to 10,900 Somali national army troops, with these units drawn from various regions in the country.^[15]

As of April 2015, UNSOM coordinates international security sector assistance for the SNA in accordance with the Somali federal government's priority areas. It also provides advice on recruitment of female officers, strictures on age appropriate military personnel, legal frameworks vis-a-vis the defence institutions, and a development strategy for the Ministry of Defence. Beginning in the month, the US government also funded the payment of 9,495 army allowances.^[15]

In May 2015, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially opened a new military training camp in Mogadishu. Construction of the center began in 2014 in conjunction with the government of the United Arab Emirates. Situated in the Hodan district, it is one of several new military academies in the country.^[21]

As of May 2015, the federal government in conjunction with UNSOM was working toward establishing a comprehensive, international standards and obligations-compliant ammunition and weapons management system. To this end, capacity-building for the physical management of arms and bookkeeping was being developed, and new storage facilities and armouries for weapons and explosives were being constructed.^[15]

Strength and units

In August 2011, the TFG announced the creation of a new Special Force. Consisting of 300 trained soldiers, the unit was initially mandated with protecting relief shipments and distribution centers in Mogadishu. Besides helping to stabilize the city, the protection force is also tasked with combating banditry and other vices.^[22]

In March 2013 there were six trained brigades around Mogadishu, two of which were deployed at the time. Each brigade includes three to six battalions of around 1000 soldiers apiece, or 18,000 to 36,000 troops in total. Of these, an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 soldiers are currently in service.^[23]

The six SNA brigades around Mogadishu were as of July 2013 largely composed of officers from various Hawiye sub-clans, with some Marehan-Darod and minorities also present in certain units. Of the brigades, five primarily consisted of Abgaal, Murosade and Hawadle soldiers. In February 2013 Brigade 2 was under the command of Brigadier General Abdullahi Osman Agey. Brigade 3 over the same period comprised 840 fighters, most of whom belong to the Hawiye-Habar Gidir/Ayr clan. The unit was around 30% to 50% smaller in size than the other five brigades that are garrisoned in the larger Banaadir region. Led by General Mohamed Roble Jimale 'Gobale', it occupied an area outside of Mogadishu and Merka and along the Afgoye corridor. The Monitoring Group reported that many Brigade 3 fighters had been drawn from around 300-strong militias controlled by Yusuf Mohamed Siyaad 'Indha Adde', a close associate of Jimale and the former Eritrean-backed chief of defence for the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia-Asmara. However, Siyaad was by then no longer part of the SNA's official military structures.^[24]

As of May–June 2014, the army reportedly consists of an estimated 20,000 soldiers. Of these, the majority are men, with around 1,500 female SNA officials.^[25]

Brigade 5 was identified in reporting about a New Zealand UN advisor.^[26] Later, on June 9, 2014, Garowe Online referred to the Brigade 5 and Brigade 6 of the SNA, in Lower Shabelle.^[27] Brigades 5 and 6 have fought against Al-Shabaab including in Mogadishu and Afgoye. With a post-training drop-out rate of around 10%, the vast majority of the EUTM-trained soldiers have continued to serve in the Somalia national security forces after their initial period of training abroad. Overall, the Somali armed forces' combat capability has strengthened due in part to having both more combat experience and international support, including training, leadership and planning facilitation.^[28]

In February 2014, the Federal Government concluded a six-month training course for the first Commandos, Danab ("Lightning"), since 1991.^[29] Training had been carried out by Bancroft Global Development, a U.S. private military contractor, paid by AMISOM which is then reimbursed by the U.S. State Department. The aim was to create a mixed-clan unit. The Commandos are headquartered at the former Balli Dogle air base (Walaweyn District, Lower Shabelle).^[29] The training of the first Danab unit had begun in October 2013, and included 150 soldiers. As of July 2014, training of the second unit was underway. According to General Elmi, the special training is geared toward both urban and rural environments, and is aimed at preparing the soldiers for guerrilla warfare and all other types of modern military operations. Elmi said that a total of 570 Commandos are expected to have completed training by U.S. security personnel by the end of 2014.^[17]

Agreements

Somalia has signed military cooperation agreements with Turkey in May 2010,^[30] February 2014,^[31] and January 2015.^[32]

In February 2012, Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and Italian Defence Minister Gianpaolo Di Paola agreed that Italy would assist the Somali military as part of the National Security and Stabilization Plan (NSSP),^[33] an initiative designed to strengthen and professionalize the national security forces.^[34] The agreement would include training soldiers and rebuilding the Somali army.^[33] In November 2014, the Federal Parliament approved a new defense and cooperation treaty with Italy, which the Ministry of Defence had signed earlier in the year. The agreement includes training and equipping of the army by Italy.^[35]

In November 2014, Somalia signed a military cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates.^[36]

Turkey signed an agreement with Somalia in early 2016, to open a military base in Somalia, at which Turkish Armed Forces officers will train Somali soldiers and troops from other African countries to fight against Al-Shabaab. The base was established in the capital Mogadishu. Over 1,500 Somali troops were to be trained by 200 Turkish personnel. The Turkish army is also planning to build a military school in Somalia to train officers.^[37]

Army equipment, 1981

The following were the Somali National Army's major weapons in 1981:^[38]

A T-55, one of several SNA tanks.

A Somali National Army BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier.

Army equipment, 1989

An abandoned Somali M47 in Mogadishu, discovered by U.S. Army troops on 1 December 1993.

Previous arms acquisitions included the following equipment, much of which was unservicable ca. June 1989:^[39] 293 main battle tanks (30 Centurion from Kuwait^[40] 123 M47 Patton, 30 T-34, 110 T-54/55 from various sources). Other armoured fighting vehicles included 10 M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks, 30 BRDM-2 and 15 Panhard AML-90 armored cars (formerly owned by Saudi Arabia). The IISS estimated in 1989 that there were 474 armoured personnel carriers, including 64 BTR-40/BTR-50/BTR-60, 100 BTR-152 wheeled armored personnel carriers, 310 Fiat 6614 and 6616s, and that BMR-600s had been reported. The IISS estimated that there were 210 towed artillery pieces (8 M-1944 100mm, 100 M-56 105mm, 84 M-1938 122mm, and 18 M198 155 mm towed howitzers). Other equipment reported by the IISS included 82mm and 120mm mortars, 100 Milan and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles, rocket launchers, recoilless rifles, and a variety of Soviet air defence guns of 20mm, 23mm, 37mm, 40mm, 57mm, and 100mm calibre.

Equipment donations, 2012–2013

In May 2012, over thirty-three vehicles were donated by the U.S. government to the SNA. The vehicles include 16 Magirus Trucks, 4 Hilux Pickups, 6 Land Cruiser Pickups, 1 Water Tanker, and 6 Water Trailers.^[41] On 9 April 2013, the U.S. government approved the provision of defense articles and services by the American authorities to the Somali Federal Government.^[42] It handed over 15 vehicles to the new Commandos in March 2014.^[43]

In April 2013, Djibouti presented the SNA with 15 armoured military vehicles. The equipment was part of a larger consignment of 25 military trucks and 25 armoured military vehicles.^[44]

The same month, the Italian government handed over 54 armored and personnel carrier vehicles to the army at a ceremony in Mogadishu.^[45]

As of April 2015, the Ministry of Defence's Guulwade Plan identifies the equipment and weaponry requirements of the army.^[15]

Somali Army currently

The current army force of Somalia has manly donated equipment from Italy and South Africa and some left-over soviet equipment.^[46] Its AFL force is relatively small and is composed mainly of APCs and IMVs.^[47]

Army Weaponry And Equipment c. 2017

	Origin	Type	Notes
Fiat 6616	Italy	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	Unknown amount In Service.[48]
Fiat 6616	Italy	Armoured Personnel Carrier	In Service.[48]
Saxon (vehicle)	United Kingdom	Armoured Personnel Carrier	Donated from Djibouti, currently 25 in service.[48]
Iveco VM 90[48]	Italy	Armoured Personnel Carrier	Donated from Italy.
Casspir	South Africa	MRAP	9 in Service.[48]
RG-31 Nyala	South Africa	Infantry Mobility Vehicle	In Service.[48]
BM-21	Soviet Union	Multiple Rocket Launcher	Unknown amount in service.[48]
ZU-23-2[48]	Soviet Union	Anti-Aircraft Gun
TT pistol[49]	Soviet Union	Pistol
Sterling submachine gun[49]	United Kingdom	Submachine gun
AK-47[49]	Soviet Union	Assault Rifle	Standard issue rifle of the Somali Armed Forces alongside with other AK-47 Variants.
AKM[49][50]	Soviet Union	Assault Rifle
vz. 58[51]	Czech Republic	Assault Rifle
M4 carbine	United States	Assault Rifle	Used by Special Forces.[52]
M16 rifle[49]	United States	Assault Rifle
Type 56 Assault Rifle[53]	People's Republic of China	Assault Rifle
Heckler & Koch G3[49]	Germany	Battle Rifle
FN FAL[49]	Belgium	Battle Rifle
M14 rifle[49]	United States	Battle Rifle
Dragunov sniper rifle[54][55]	Soviet Union	Marksman Rifle
RPD machine gun[49]	Soviet Union	Light Machine Gun
RPK machine gun[49]	Soviet Union	Light Machine Gun
RP-46[49]	Soviet Union	Machine Gun
AA-52 machine gun[49]	France	Machine Gun
PK machine gun[49][50]	Soviet Union	Machine Gun
FN MAG[49]	Belgium	Machine Gun
DShK[49]	Soviet Union	Heavy Machine Gun
M2 Browning[49]	United States	Heavy Machine Gun
M79 grenade launcher[49]	United States	Grenade Launcher
RPG-2[49]	Soviet Union	Grenade Launcher
RPG-7[49]	Soviet Union	Grenade Launcher
MPT-76	Turkey	Assault Rifle	450 Delivered[56]