President Hassan Sheikh Says Somalia Ready to Take Over Security as AU Troops Exit Looms
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says the country’s armed forces are ready to assume greater responsibility for national security as the African Union’s AUSSOM mission moves toward a planned transition.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Sunday that the country’s armed forces must now take full responsibility for national security as Somalia prepares for the eventual departure of African Union troops who have supported the government in its fight against Al-Shabaab.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Xananbuure in the central Galgaduud region, where thousands of Somali soldiers completed their training, Hassan Sheikh said the country had reached a point where its own security forces must assume greater responsibility.
“The world and our friends have helped us, but our time has come to take responsibility for ourselves,” the president said. “It is also time to give the forces stationed in our country beautiful flowers and say to them, ‘Brothers, thank you.’”
The remarks come as the Somali government seeks to strengthen the national army and gradually assume security responsibilities currently shared with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM.
The mission began operations in January 2025, replacing the previous African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, or ATMIS. Its mandate includes supporting Somali security forces, combating Al-Shabaab, and facilitating the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to Somali authorities.
AUSSOM’s current mandate runs until Dec. 31, 2026, although it could be extended depending on security conditions and decisions by Somalia, the African Union and the United Nations Security Council.
Hassan Sheikh thanked foreign forces for their longstanding support, while emphasizing that Somalia must build the capacity needed to manage its own security.
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He also praised the newly graduated soldiers, saying they represented a significant addition to the Somali National Army. The president said their training went beyond basic military instruction and included specialized courses designed to prepare them for operational duties.
“You have added an important strength to the Somali National Army,” he said. “This was not simply training conducted inside Somalia. They underwent one of the longest periods of military training and received training in different specializations.”
The soldiers completed nearly a year of basic military training at Xananbuure. Recruited from all regions of the Federal Republic of Somalia, they are among the largest groups to undergo military training at this level inside the country since the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, according to the government.
Their training covered military skills, discipline, military law, combat tactics and other knowledge considered necessary for carrying out national duties.
The newly trained units are expected to reinforce Somali forces currently conducting operations against Al-Shabaab in parts of Galmudug and other regions.
Somalia has been under pressure to demonstrate that its national forces can independently secure territory as international troops gradually reduce their role. The planned transition is considered a major test for the Somali army, which continues to battle Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group that has carried out attacks across Somalia and in neighbouring countries.
The timing of the transition remains closely tied to the capabilities of Somali forces and the security situation on the ground. Any withdrawal of AUSSOM troops is therefore expected to depend on whether Somali forces can effectively take over bases, territory and operational responsibilities currently supported by the African Union mission.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.