MOGADISHU – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed Brigadier General Mohamed Mohamud Hassan “Garabey” as the new Commander of the Somali National Army’s Support Command, a move aimed at modernizing the military’s logistics and administrative framework.
The appointment, recommended by the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of the Armed Forces, forms part of a strategic initiative to streamline supply chains and improve troop readiness during ongoing national security operations. Brigadier General Garabey previously served as the Military Attaché to Turkey and possesses extensive experience in defense logistics.
Turkey has emerged as one of Somalia’s most consistent security partners over the past decade, providing comprehensive military training, equipment, and capacity-building support. The TURKSOM Military Academy in Mogadishu, established in 2017 with Turkish support, has trained thousands of Somali soldiers and officers. Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has previously described the academy as “a cornerstone in our journey towards building a capable, self-reliant, and professional national army.”
Garabey’s appointment comes amid a significant expansion of Turkey’s military presence in Somalia. In February 2026, a Turkish military transport docked at Mogadishu Port, offloading a shipment of M48 and M60 Patton battle tanks, signaling a major escalation of Ankara’s military footprint in the Horn of Africa. According to informed security sources, the tanks will be positioned to defend Turkish installations in the Warshiikh district, approximately 60 kilometers north of Mogadishu, where facilities are reportedly being prepared for missile and satellite launch operations.
Turkish F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters roared over Mogadishu in April, celebrating the 66th anniversary of Somalia’s army formation with an impressive aerial demonstration. The exhibition highlighted Turkey’s ongoing commitment to arming and training Somali security personnel as the nation strives to rebuild following over three decades of internal conflict.
The Federal Government has secured substantial military assistance from multiple international partners. Somalia has acquired advanced weaponry from Türkiye, Egypt, and Serbia, including armored vehicles, advanced communication systems, command equipment, and night-vision technology. This assistance aligns closely with the ongoing deployment of the elite Gorgor (Eagle) units, who have undergone specialized training at the TURKSOM facility in Mogadishu.
A Qatari Emiri Air Force C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft landed at Aden Adde International Airport in February, indicating an ongoing expansion of military logistics in the Horn of Africa. The heavy-lift military transport reached the Somali capital following a multi-leg journey that originated in Turkey, making stops at military installations in Kayseri and Ankara before heading to Somalia.
The military modernization efforts come at a time of heightened regional tensions following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in late 2025. The reinforcement of the Somali National Army serves as a signal to Hargeisa and international actors that the Federal Government possesses influential backers prepared to strengthen its defensive posture.
Israel formally recognized Somaliland in late 2025, with both parties announcing plans to establish embassies. The recognition attracted attention not only as a direct challenge to Somalia’s territorial integrity but also as a destabilizing development for the broader regional order.
The logistics restructuring under Garabey’s leadership is intended to ensure that the Somali National Army can effectively utilize the new equipment and maintain operational readiness. The Support Command’s role in managing supply chains, maintenance, and troop logistics will be critical as Somalia prepares for the phase-out of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and assumes greater responsibility for national security.
Brigadier General Garabey’s experience as Military Attaché to Turkey positions him well to coordinate the growing defense cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara. Turkey’s engagement has acquired a strategic long-term perspective, with Turkish authorities recently revealing intentions to construct a space launch facility in Somalia and stationing naval forces to safeguard Turkish ships engaged in seismic oil exploration along the Somali coast.
The appointment reflects the Federal Government’s broader strategy of professionalizing the Somali National Army and reducing dependency on foreign forces. As Somalia intensifies its efforts to assume full security responsibility, the modernization of logistics and administrative systems under Garabey’s command will be essential to sustaining military operations against Al-Shabaab and protecting the nation’s sovereignty.
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