Thursday August 29, 2024
Graduates of the European Union's First Officer Training Program in Somalia, along with EU and Somali military officials, celebrate the successful completion of the course at the General Dhagabadan Training Centre in Mogadishu. CREDIT / EUTM-S
Mogadishu (HOL) — Sixty-nine new Somali army officers, trained under the European Union’s rigorous program, graduated on Monday, signalling a pivotal step in the nation’s ongoing efforts to rebuild its military and secure lasting peace.
The ceremony at the General Dhagabadan Training Centre (GDTC) in Mogadishu marked the conclusion of the Somali Army Cadet Officer Course (SACOC), a nine-month training initiative designed to prepare cadets for leadership roles within the Somali National Army (SNA). The course was requested by the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) General Staff and organized by the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S).
Dignitaries at the event included European Union Ambassador to Somalia Karin Johansson, EUTM-S Force Commander Brigadier General Giuseppe Zizzari, SNAF Training and Doctrine Commander Col. Ahmed Essa Ahmed, and GDTC Commander Lt. Col. Muhudin Aspro.
Five cadets were singled out and honoured for their exceptional performance during the course.
EUTM-S, which began its mission in 2010, initially conducted training in Uganda due to security concerns in Somalia. The mission has since transitioned to more advanced training within Somalia.