Somali Troops Return After Training in Eritrea, Media Report
Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur speaks at a press conference in Mogadishu on December 21, 2022 after the arrival of the first group of Somali soldiers trained in Eritrea.
Somalia is looking for regional cooperation and support in the Horn of Africa, as the country faces threats of terrorism, separatism, and food insecurity caused by drought.The first group of Somali troops returned from training in Eritrea on Wednesday, Somali Defense Minister Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur told the media.
"They will participate in the war on al-Shabaab*," the official said.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda*-affiliated jihadist movement, has been fighting against the Somali government since the mid-2000s. Recently, the organization intensified its terror attacks after the newly-elected government declared an “all-out-war” against the Islamist militant group.In July 2022, the Eritrean government officially confirmed that members of the Somali national army had been on training in Eritrea since 2019. The estimated number of Somali soldiers training in the nearby country is over 5,000, according to media.Recently, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made his second visit to Eritrea as head of state. The goal of the trip was to discuss regional issues, such as joint anti-terrorist efforts, with Eritrea’s president. Mohamud also met with more than 200 cadets from Somalia trained at the Eritrean Aviation College.
AfricaSomalia’s President Visits Troops Training in Eritrea, Holds Talks About Security Issues12 November, 16:14 GMTPreviously, commenting on the present situation in Somalia, President Mohamud pointed out that food insecurity in the country, caused by drought, which has also led to the displacement of around a million people, has been worsened by the terrorist threat, which disrupts people’s daily life and agricultural practices.*Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations outlawed in Russia and other countries.
