MOGADISHU — Somali President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conducted an official inspection visit on Thursday to the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Gorgor Commando Forces, a specially trained unit of the Somali National Army.
The visit focused on assessing the operational readiness of the elite forces, the conditions under which soldiers are serving, and the level of logistical and medical support available to the troops.
During the inspection, President Hassan Sheikh received detailed briefings from the command and senior military officers on the unit’s current activities, operational preparedness and national security responsibilities.
The President also toured several facilities within the military complex, including command offices, troop accommodation areas, the division’s hospital and logistics facilities. The visit provided an opportunity for the President to directly assess the conditions facing soldiers and the services available to them.
President Meets Newly Trained Gorgor Commandos
President Hassan Sheikh also met with members of the 21st Brigade of the Gorgor Commando Forces, who recently completed advanced military training.
The President praised the soldiers for completing their training and highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards of discipline, professionalism and operational readiness among Somalia’s specially trained forces.
Gorgor forces have become an important component of Somalia’s efforts to strengthen its national military capabilities and conduct operations against Al-Shabaab, which the Somali government refers to as Khawaarij.
The President urged the troops to maintain a high level of preparedness and continue strengthening their capabilities as Somalia seeks to expand the role of its national security forces in combating militant groups.
Focus on Somalia’s Security Campaign
President Hassan Sheikh emphasized the importance of the armed forces in achieving the government’s broader security objectives, particularly the goal of reducing the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and enabling Somali forces to take greater responsibility for national security.
He encouraged the command and troops to remain committed to their duties and to continue improving their operational capacity.
The government has in recent years placed increased emphasis on strengthening specially trained Somali military units, with international partners providing training, equipment and other forms of military assistance.
The Gorgor units are among the Somali forces that have received specialized training and are expected to play a significant role in military operations and counterterrorism efforts.
President Thanks Türkiye for Military Support
At the conclusion of the visit, President Hassan Sheikh expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Türkiye for their continued support to Somalia’s military development.
He specifically thanked Türkiye for its assistance in the rebuilding, training and professional development of the Somali National Army, including support aimed at improving Somalia’s specially trained commando units.
Türkiye has been one of Somalia’s key international partners in the security sector, supporting military training and capacity-building as Mogadishu works to develop a more capable national army.
The President’s visit comes as Somalia continues efforts to strengthen its security institutions and improve the readiness of national forces. The government has repeatedly emphasized that building capable Somali security forces is essential to achieving long-term stability and reducing reliance on foreign military support.
The inspection of the Gorgor commandos also highlighted the government’s continued focus on professionalizing elite military units capable of responding to security threats across the country.
President Hassan Sheikh’s message to the troops was clear: maintaining combat readiness, strengthening military professionalism and improving the capabilities of national forces remain central to Somalia’s efforts to secure the country and advance toward a future in which Somali forces assume primary responsibility for protecting the nation.
