Somalia training special armed unit to face off with al-Shabaab

The Somali army is training a special force skilled in asymmetrical warfare to deal with terror gang, Al- Shabaab, which has held the country under a stranglehold for the past 20 years.

This new force is also preparing for the eventual withdrawal of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSOM) peacekeepers, who are on their final assignment in a country that has lacked peace since 1991, when President Siad Barre’s government was toppled, thrusting Somalia into chaos.

The force is primarily made up of young Somalis recruited from rural areas, away from the urban centers where Al Shabaab has entrenched itself and exerts control.

The first batch of the special force has graduated and been deployed to Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region to repel advances by the terror group.

Hilweyne Training Base, located 34 kilometres from Mogadishu, was the Somali National Army’s (SNA) first training institution and has been operational since 1965.

However, the sounds of marching boots and commanders barking orders fell silent when President  Barre’s government collapsed in 1991.

Col Ali Hashi, who knows the centre’s history well, says it was the largest training base for tanks and special forces back in 1965.

Col Hashi runs the base with the support of 41-year-old Col Adan Mohamed Omar, the base director, who ensures recruits are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.

Together, the two commanders oversee the recruitment of the special force, which is mainly made up of young Somalis carefully selected for their resilience and drawn from rural areas.

“We choose these recruits because we know their family backgrounds; they have not been influenced by Islamists and possess the endurance needed for war,” says Col Omar.

The base is staffed by 40 trainers, who were initially trained in Eritrea, using tactics similar to those employed by Al Shabaab in asymmetrical warfare.

“The difference with those we are training is that they will be foot soldiers deployed directly to battle Islamists,” said Col Omar.

In March, President Mohamud joined hundreds of militia fighters in the Middle Shabelle region to show solidarity in the fight against Al Shabaab. He urged local fighters to remain steadfast in their efforts to defeat the insurgents.

The new recruits are being trained in using intelligence, drone deployment and air support.

“The Somali National Army (SNA) has surveillance drones that help us monitor enemy movements and strike at the right moment,” the base commander explained. He added that the military has also acquired attack-capable drones, and recruits must be well trained to handle any situation.

The recruits undergo a rigorous six-month training program running daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We believe 14 hours of training a day allows recruits enough rest while preparing them for the challenges ahead,” said Col. Hashi.

Dressed in sky-blue tracksuits, the special force recruits follow daily routines before being divided into smaller units for specialized training in preparation for deployment.

The commanders declined to disclose the number of soldiers planned for recruitment and deployment but confirmed the terror group has been pushed out of cities and now operates mainly in rural areas.

However, the base lacks basic facilities, including adequate accommodation and training equipment, essential for preparing recruits for their mission.

The peacekeeping mission, now in its final phase, is working closely with the Somali National Army to ensure a smooth handover of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) previously held by AMISOM and its predecessor, ATMIS.

In Hirshabelle, where the new force has been deployed, the Somali army supports them with surveillance drones to enhance efforts against Al Shabaab.