Somali Army Officers Graduate from Rwanda Defence Command and Staff College with Master’s Degrees

MOGADISHU – The Commander of Training of the Somali National Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Issa Ahmed, has officiated the graduation of a group of Somali National Army officers who completed advanced military training at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in Musanze District.

The officers were among the 14th intake of the Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC), a nearly year-long program that began on July 21, 2025, and lasted approximately 46 weeks. The course focused on preparing selected senior officers for higher command and staff appointments, covering leadership, strategic planning, critical thinking, joint and combined operations, regional security challenges, and multi-domain warfare. Participants also undertook study tours, cultural exchange programs, and specialized training modules designed to broaden their understanding of contemporary security issues.

Master’s Degrees in Security Studies Awarded

In addition to their military qualifications, the officers earned Master’s degrees in Security Studies from the University of Rwanda, further enhancing their professional expertise in security and strategic affairs. The training program focused on strengthening leadership and command capabilities, operational planning, and coordination within multinational and integrated military forces, equipping the officers with skills essential for addressing contemporary security challenges and supporting the continued development of Somalia’s armed forces.

The course brought together 108 senior officers, mainly Majors and Lieutenant Colonels, from 20 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Besides Rwanda and Somalia, participants came from Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

The graduation marked another milestone in the expanding military partnership between Somalia and Rwanda. In October 2025, Somali Chief of Defence Forces Major General Odawa Yusuf Rage met with Rwandan Defence Forces Chief of Defence Staff General Mubarakh Muganga to strengthen bilateral military ties, focusing on counterterrorism, training, intelligence sharing, and peacekeeping.

Kagame Addresses Graduates as Somalia Strengthens Defense Ties

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, officiated the graduation ceremony for the senior officers, which included the Somali contingent. Addressing the graduates, Kagame said: “You arrived here as experienced professionals and are now leaving with broader knowledge, sharper strategic awareness, and greater responsibility.” He urged officers to cultivate courage, sound judgment, and a strong sense of purpose, emphasizing that these qualities are essential for effective leadership in complex and demanding environments.

President Kagame also highlighted the importance of professional relationships forged during the course, stating that military cooperation often depends on trust established long before crises emerge. “When officers who trained together meet in operations, regional engagements or moments of crisis, they already possess an understanding that strengthens cooperation,” he said.

Somalia and Rwanda have entered a new chapter of partnership after signing a comprehensive cooperation agreement in Kigali aimed at strengthening ties across diplomacy, trade, investment, and institutional development. The accord, signed by Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam H. Omer Dhaay and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe, underscores a shared commitment to deepen collaboration, including in security reform and capacity building.

Expanding International Military Training for Somali Forces

The graduation from the RDF Command and Staff College is part of a broader effort by Somalia to professionalize its armed forces through international partnerships. Somali officers have recently completed advanced training in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Türkiye, and Qatar.

Captain Mohamed Muse Mohamed graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, marking the first time a Somali National Armed Forces officer had done so in four decades. The achievement was hailed by Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi as a significant step toward enhancing the capabilities and standards of the Somali National Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre presided over a graduation ceremony for a new cohort of elite Somali commandos, known as GorGor, who underwent specialized training provided by Türkiye. Another group of Somali officers completed advanced training at the National Defence University’s War College in Türkiye, marking a significant step in Somalia’s efforts to professionalize its security forces and strengthen its defense institutions.

A separate group of 17 Somali cadets graduated from the Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Attiyah Air Academy in Doha, Qatar, as part of the 12th batch of cadets trained at the facility.

Strengthening Somalia’s Military Leadership

The graduation of officers from the RDF Command and Staff College comes as Somalia continues to rebuild its armed forces amid the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM). The officers’ training in multinational and integrated military operations is designed to enhance Somalia’s ability to coordinate with regional partners and take greater responsibility for national security.

Somali General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud was appointed as the new Commander of the Somali National Army in January 2026. He holds two Master’s degrees—a Master of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and a Military Master in Security Sciences. General Mohamud represents the modern face of the Somali National Army, an institution moving rapidly toward self-sufficiency and professional excellence.

Somalia has been actively engaging with African military leaders to strengthen regional security. The country’s Land Force Commander, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi, joined counterparts from more than 30 African nations at the 2nd Land Forces Commanders Symposium in Kigali, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in defeating terrorism and sustaining security gains.

A Historic Milestone for Somali-Rwandan Military Ties

The Somali officers’ graduation from the RDF Command and Staff College represents a significant milestone in the growing military cooperation between the two nations. Rwanda’s experience in post-conflict recovery, discipline, and capacity building has been cited as particularly valuable as Somalia continues to rebuild its armed forces.

Both generals in previous high-level meetings reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a security partnership that supports stability not only in Somalia but across the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes regions. Somalia values Rwanda’s growing role in regional peace efforts and the RDF’s professionalism and contributions to African Union and United Nations missions.

The successful completion of the course by Somali officers demonstrates Somalia’s determination to position itself not merely as a recipient of regional security assistance, but as an active partner in Africa’s broader peace and stability efforts. As Somalia continues its security sector reforms, the return of professionally trained officers from international military academies is expected to strengthen the country’s defense institutions and enhance its capacity to address both current and emerging security threats.