Somali Police Trained in Türkiye Contribute to National Security

Published by Editor in Chief

Somali police officers, benefiting from training received in Türkiye and the country’s extensive experience in the field, are helping to enhance security in their homeland.

Turkey’s Interior Counsellor at the Embassy in Mogadishu, Gendarmerie Colonel Tansu Utku, Lieutenant Commissioner Sagal Abdinur, liaison officer between Turkish and Somali police Major Mahad Hassan Abdi, and Police Station Chief Superintendent Abdullahi Mohamed Olow shared their insights with an Anadolu Agency reporter.

Utku noted that the Counsellor’s Office has been operating in Somalia since 2018.
He stated that the Interior Ministry’s capacity-building efforts focus on supporting the restructuring of the Somali police force:

“The transfer of the experience and knowledge accumulated by Turkish law enforcement agencies over the years to the security institutions of friendly and allied nations contributes significantly to both global and regional security,” Utku said.

Shared Destiny Between Türkiye and Somalia

Utku recalled that after Somalia’s central government collapsed in 1991, the country endured prolonged civil war and institutional breakdown, during which the police force lost its effectiveness.

“Türkiye has always stood by the Somali people and state with whom we share a bond of destiny. Since the reestablishment of the federal government in 2012, Türkiye has played an active role in rebuilding the Somali police,” he added.

Following bilateral security and cooperation agreements, short-term training courses began in 2012.
Since 2015, Somali students have also been admitted to Türkiye’s Police Academy and the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

“Dozens of police officers complete their education in Türkiye and return home to serve in key and critical positions,” Utku noted.

He said the Somali Police Special Operations Unit, called Haramcad (meaning cheetah in Somali), has been capable since 2019 of conducting high-risk tactical operations such as hostage rescue, responding to car bombs, and protecting critical facilities.

Training and Selection

Candidates are chosen through a joint commission with local partners, assessing their physical fitness, education, criminal records, and health status.
Training takes place at the Somali Turkish Task Force Base, utilizing shooting ranges and sports facilities within the compound.

Utku explained that during the Basic Police Special Operations training, candidates are pushed to their physical limits and trained in planning and conducting operations as well as tactical shooting skills.
After this phase, they undergo basic police training at the General Kaahiye Police Academy, and successful trainees begin active duty.

“The goal is to cultivate disciplined, patriotic, and professional officers who respect the rule of law, democratic institutions, and human rights, and who remain politically neutral,” Utku emphasized.

Humanitarian and Institutional Cooperation

Utku pointed out that Somalia is geographically vulnerable to global climate crises, suffering from droughts and floods.
He said that under the coordination of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority), Türkiye has conducted humanitarian aid programs during such disasters.

In October 2024, Türkiye delivered around 3,000 tons of humanitarian supplies—including food, hygiene products, shelter, and clothing—to Somali authorities with contributions from the Turkish Red Crescent and other NGOs.

He also mentioned that cooperation continues between the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management and the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency within national and international legal frameworks.

Somali Officers Serving Their Country After Training

Lieutenant Commissioner Sagal Abdinur, Deputy Commander of the Counterterrorism Unit, said she went to Türkiye in 2021 and earned a master’s degree at the Police Academy in Ankara.

“I learned Turkish and studied radicalism, violence, and counterterrorism. I’m grateful to the Turkish people and the Republic of Türkiye for the opportunities they provided,” she said.

Liaison officer Major Mahad Hassan Abdi, a graduate of Gölbaşı Police Academy, recalled completing his master’s degree in Türkiye before returning to Somalia, where he first served as Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Unit and now works as liaison officer.

Police Station Chief Superintendent Abdullahi Mohamed Olow also studied in Türkiye in 2021, completing a program in Strategic Management at the Police Academy in Ankara.
He expressed deep gratitude to the Turkish people, emphasizing the immense value of the education he received.