Kampala(Mogadishu24)- Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Abdudir Mohamed Nor on Friday afternoon closed military training program for 3,000 newly recruited Somali forces in which the United Arab Emirates sponsored (UAE) in Uganda.

The Minister has expressed his gratitude and highlighted the significance of the training program.

“Today I had the honor to attend the graduation ceremony of 3,000 SNA troops trained in Uganda. The continued enhancement of the capacity of our Somali National Army Force is crucial to our efforts in eradicating Al-Shabaab from Somalia. The SNA Forces are committed to ensuring the overall peace and stability of Somalia. Thankful to the support accorded by UAE and Uganda in our fight against terror and their role in supporting Somalia’s efforts in Force Generation,” the minister said.

This is the second batch of troops to complete the comprehensive training camp in Uganda this year, further underscoring the commitment of both Somalia and the UAE to strengthening the country’s armed forces.

Earlier this year, another 3,000 soldiers underwent a similar training program in Uganda, these well-prepared forces have since assumed responsibility for securing the capital city, Mogadishu.

With the goal of gradually assuming security responsibilities from the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by the end of 2024, the Somali government is working towards increasing the number of troops in its armed forces.