Somalia, U.S. sign MoU for construction of military bases

On Thursday, Somalia and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining the construction of five military bases for the Somali National Army’s (SNA) Danab Brigade. Villa Somalia, the official channel of communication for the presidency announced the agreement, highlighting its potential contribution to strengthening Somalia’s security apparatus.

It hailed the project as a “significant contribution” to the Government’s efforts to build an effective national army capable of taking over security responsibilities from ATMIS and countering the country’s security threats.

The planned bases, located in Baidoa, Dhusamareb, Jowhar, Kismayo, and Mogadishu, aim to enhance the SNA’s capacity to assume security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and combat ongoing security threats.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Molly Phee, attended the signing ceremony alongside President Mohamud and Somalia’s Defense Minister.

The United States currently maintains a limited number of military personnel in Somalia focused on training and advising the Danab Brigade. Additionally, the U.S. provides air support to Somali government forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab militia fighters. However, these airstrikes have drawn criticism due to documented civilian casualties.

Specific details regarding the construction timeline and budget remain unknown at this time.