By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — The Swedish government has deployed a small contingent of troops to Somalia to assist the Somali National Army (SNA) in its ongoing fight against terrorist groups, officials confirmed this week. The deployment comes following an official invitation from the Somali government and forms part of a coordinated effort with the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM).
The operation, known as Operation Thunderbird, is being conducted jointly by Sweden, the United States, and Somali forces. The Swedish unit is primarily focused on providing training, advisory support, and intelligence assistance to enhance the operational capabilities of Somali and U.S. forces.
“Sweden’s unit is dedicated to supporting Somali and American troops through training, guidance, and the provision of critical intelligence,” said Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, head of Joint Operations in the Swedish Armed Forces.
Gen. John W. Brennan, Deputy Commander of US AFRICOM, described Sweden as “a key partner in the fight against extremist groups in Somalia,” praising their specialized expertise in intelligence gathering and operational investigations.
Although Somalia continues to face a challenging security environment, early results from the cooperation between Somali, Swedish, and U.S. forces have been described as positive, with improvements reported in operational planning and counterterrorism capabilities.
Sweden is also actively participating in other international missions in the region, including the EU Training Mission (EUTM Somalia), Operation Atalanta, which monitors piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and Operation Aspides, aimed at enhancing maritime security.
Officials emphasized that the Swedish deployment demonstrates the growing international commitment to stabilizing Somalia, supporting local security forces, and countering terrorist activity in the Horn of Africa.
