The United Kingdom (UK) government has committed to train about 600 Somali National Army (SNA) elite troops in an effort aimed at boosting war on the Al-Qaeda associated Al-Shabaab operating primarily Somalia.
The UK government will undertake the operation aimed at supporting the SNA through three different training programmes in Baidoa, Bay region of Somalia. The programmes will significantly improve on troops operations in tackling Al-Shabaab militancy and promote stability of the fragile of the Horn of Africa nation.
The training of SNA comes at a time when African Union Mission Forces (AMISOM) are planning to exit Somalia upon full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan (STP) which is expected to be implemented by the end of 2021.
In support of the weak Federal government troops the UK training will target 600 more soldiers who will join the elite squad that mainly focuses on the fight against the Islamist Al-Shabaab. Britain, the US, and Turkey are some of the foreign countries training the SNA troops, which have been undergoing reconstitution since 1991.
While making reference to the training in Baidoa, Kate Foster, the United Kingdom’s envoy to Somalia, reiterated that troop’s training will be pivotal in building the SNA’s capacity to tackle security challenges perpetuated by Al-Shabaab for close to two decades.
