By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has officially suspended the long-standing practice of sending batches of its elite Gorgor troops to Turkey for military training, announcing that all phases of the programme will now be conducted domestically at the expanding TURKSOM Military Academy in Mogadishu.
Officials said the decision follows a sharp increase in the number of recruits joining the Gorgor unit, one of Somalia’s most respected infantry formations trained with Turkish military assistance. With the growing number of recruits and increased targets under the national security transition plan, the capacity to send all troops abroad had become unsustainable. For the first time since the programme began in 2017, Somalia will offer the entire training curriculum locally, including the advanced second-phase instruction that was previously conducted in Turkey. A senior Ministry of Defence official told HAN News that moving training to Mogadishu allows the army to train more soldiers at a faster pace while maintaining higher oversight from Somali commanders.
To support the transition, Turkey has increased its military presence at TURKSOM, deploying additional instructors, technical advisors, tactical trainers, and specialists in engineering, intelligence, and command training. These reinforcements will oversee both basic and advanced levels of Gorgor training, ensuring that recruits complete their entire preparation within Somalia while still receiving high-standard mentorship. Somali officials said the move is expected to reduce logistical costs, shorten training cycles, improve coordination between field commanders and trainees, and increase the number of soldiers ready for operations.
In parallel, the government has established a new elite formation called the Gorgor Special Force, composed of experienced officers, non-commissioned officers, and veterans drawn from Gorgor, Danab, and other frontline brigades that have participated in major offensives against Al-Shabaab. This new unit will undergo one of the most advanced training programmes ever structured for the Somali National Army, combining 12 months of specialised training in Turkey with six months of advanced tactical training in Somalia. The first batch of this special force has already departed for Turkey. Officials said the unit will become the most highly trained, best-equipped, and mobile formation in the Somali military, capable of handling complex counter-terrorism and special operations missions.
The restructuring comes as Somalia navigates the sensitive period of AUSSOM withdrawal and the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to national forces. Strengthening elite units such as Gorgor and Danab is considered crucial to filling security gaps, responding quickly to Al-Shabaab attacks, stabilising newly liberated districts, and protecting key government installations. Security analysts say Somalia is entering a decisive phase, and the performance of these elite forces will directly influence the stability of areas liberated during ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to release further details in the coming weeks on equipment upgrades for the Gorgor and Gorgor Special Force, deployment locations, integration under the national security architecture, and the evolving role of the TURKSOM academy.
