Somali President and Eritrean Counterpart Inspector Training Camps for Somali Navy and Air Force Cadets

On Monday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki, visited the training facilities in Eritrea that Somali Navy and Air Force cadets use.

This visit comes at a time when Somalia is ramping up its military operations against the al-Shabab terrorist group. Eritrea has been a key ally in this fight, providing training and support to Somali forces.

During their visit, the two presidents met with army officers and discussed the security relationship between the two countries. President Mohamud expressed his gratitude for Eritrea's support in the fight against terrorism.

However, the two presidents did not disclose any specific details about when the cadets would return to Somalia to participate in military operations.

According to a military source, Somali soldiers who have received training in Eritrea are currently contributing significantly to ongoing military operations in the central regions of Somalia.

Over the past two months, military offensives in Galmudug and Hirshabelle states in central Somalia have resulted in the deaths of 1,650 al-Shabab terrorists and the injuries of more than 550 others.

In 2019, the first contingent of these soldiers, numbering 5,000 in total, was secretly dispatched to Eritrea for training. Many Somalis were concerned that some of their country's military could be deployed in the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia. The parents of the troops also called for their return home.

However, there is no evidence that Somali soldiers have ever been stationed in Tigray.