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Thousands of Somali soldiers graduate after nearly a year of training in Galmudug state, representing the largest single cohort of recruits trained inside the country since the collapse of the central government in 1991. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, serving in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Somali Armed Forces, personally presided over the landmark passing-out ceremony at the Xananbuure military training school in the Galgaduud region. Recruited from across all federal member states, the newly minted troops completed an intensive eleven-month program covering combat tactics, physical conditioning, military law, and operational discipline.
The high-profile graduation ceremony drew prominent leadership from both federal and regional administrations. Galmudug State President Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor joined Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somali National Army Commander Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, federal lawmakers, and regional officials to witness the parade and tactical demonstrations. Addresses delivered during the event underscored that conducting large-scale basic instruction domestically demonstrates expanding sovereign capacity, directly advancing long-term state-building initiatives and professionalizing the Somali National Army.
Reports indicate that this graduating class forms a major component of broader international defense collaboration efforts. The training initiative operated under a bilateral defense cooperation agreement signed between Somalia and Saudi Arabia, which provided financial backing alongside instruction from foreign military specialists. The strategic influx of thousands of fresh personnel comes at a crucial juncture for national defense architecture, as federal authorities prepare to assume primary operational responsibilities amidst ongoing security transitions.
As the newly commissioned units prepare for formal integration into active service, defense officials project that their deployment will significantly enhance counter-terrorism operations and territorial stability across central regions. President Mohamud urged the soldiers to uphold strict professional discipline, safeguard national sovereignty, and honorably serve the public interest. The successful completion of the Xananbuure program reflects a concerted push by federal authorities to establish a self-sustaining military capable of maintaining peace throughout the country.