Saturday 11 July 2026 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday attended the graduation ceremony for officers and deputy officers who completed a year of military training at the TURKSOM military academy in Mogadishu.
The president watched a military parade by the graduating officers, deputy officers and the troops they are expected to lead.
President Mohamud praised the graduates for their discipline, perseverance and performance during training, describing them as future leaders of the Somali National Army.
He urged them to serve the country with honesty, knowledge and patriotism.
“The Federal Government of Somalia gives special priority to the reconstruction, modernization and upgrading of the Somali National Army, so that they have the power and skills to ensure national security, defend nationalism and eradicate Khawarij groups,” the president said.
President Mohamud thanked the Turkish government for its continued support in developing and strengthening Somalia’s armed forces.
He said Turkish support has played an important role in building a national army with the skills and capacity needed to meet Somalia’s security responsibilities.
TURKSOM, located in Mogadishu, is Turkey’s largest overseas military training base and academy.
The facility, operational since 2017, trains officers and noncommissioned officers of the Somali National Army.
It has trained thousands of Somali soldiers, including members of the elite Gorgor Commando Brigade and the Haramcad Special Police Unit.
