Saudi-Funded Somali Military Training: Regional Competition or Capacity Building?
A significant Saudi-funded Somali military training program is underway in central Somalia, with over 5,000 recruits undergoing a nine-month course at two camps in the Guri El area of Galgaduud Region, Galmudug State . The initiative follows a February 2026 defense cooperation agreement between Riyadh and Mogadishu and signals Saudi Arabia's growing security engagement in the strategically vital Horn of Africa . However, analysts and regional observers are increasingly questioning whether such programs strengthen Somali state institutions or deepen geopolitical competition . Why Is Saudi Arabia Funding Military Training in Somalia? The training program forms part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding signed by Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Khalid bin Salman on February 9, 2026 . The agreement aims to enhance the capabilities of the Somali National Army and improve regional stability and Red Sea security . The program comes after S...