Military of Somalia
Military manpower
Military age	Officially 18 years of age
Availability	males age 18-49: 1,787,727 (2005)
Fit for military service	males age 18-49: 1,022,360 (2005)
Reaching military age annually	males: n/a
Active troops	Est. 10,000 militia
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$43.28 million (2005 extrapolation)
Percent of GDP	0.9% (2005)

The Somali National Army was, up until 1991, made up of the army, navy, air force, and air defense command. The Somali Government's demise led to the de facto dissolution of the national armed forces. Efforts by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to reestablish a regular armed force under the TFG Ministry of Defense have made little progress so far. Image File history File links Flag_of_Somalia. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... An Air force is a military or armed service that primarily conducts aerial warfare. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ... The politics of Somalia are defined by the state of civil war which, since 1991, has divided the country into various warring entities and autonomist and seccessionist regions. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Main article: Military of Somalia The armed forces of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia report to the Ministry of Defense. ...

Various groups and factions control militias ranging in strength from hundreds to thousands. These militias are in general poorly trained and lightly armed, although some groups possess limited inventories of older armored vehicles and other heavy weapons and small arms are prevalent throughout Somalia. The Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own security and police forces. Motto لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله  (Arabic) Lā ilāhā illā-llāhu; muhammadun rasÅ«lu-llāhi  (transliteration) There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah And also : Justice, Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Success for All Anthem Saamo ku waar Capital Hargeisa (1941-1960) (1991 - present) Official languages Somali and... Motto None Anthem Puntland Somali National Anthem Capital Garowe (Administrative), Bosaso (Commercial) Largest city Bosaso Official languages Somali and Arabic Government  -  President Mohamud Muse Hersi  -  Vice-President Hassan Dahir Mohamud Autonomy Inside Somalia   -  Declared 1998   -  Recognition   Area  -  Total 212,510 km km² (84th) n/a sq mi   -  Water (%) Negl. ...

An agreement between the TFG and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) to establish a national military was reportedly reached "in principle" on September 5, 2006, but in practice, political disagreements scuttled talks scheduled for October 30 in Khartoum, Sudan.^[1][2] After the defeat of the ICU in December 2006–January 2007, an agreement was reached between the warlords and the government for the militias to be disarmed, and for former militia members to apply to join the army. Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... Nickname: Khartoums location in Sudan Coordinates: Government  - Governor Abdul Halim al Mutafi Population (2005)  - Urban Over 1 Million For other uses, see Khartoum (disambiguation). ... December 2006 is the twelfth and final month of the year and will begin in 2 day(s). ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Crystal ball, user has created future months and dates before, and been told not to (See User Talk:Jose and Ricardo). ... A technical in Somalia after the Fall of Mogadishu, December, 2006 Further information: Diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the Somali Civil War After the Fall of Mogadishu and Kismayo to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, in late 2006, the country took steps to disarm the militias of the...

History

Historically, Somali society accorded prestige to the warrior (waranle) and rewarded military prowess. Except for a man of religion (wadaad), and they were few in number, all Somali males were considered potential warriors.

Under Italian colonial rule eight "Arab-Somali" infantry battalions were raised, as well as irregular units of Italian officered "dubats" who served as frontier guards and tribal police. A Camel Corps existed in British Somaliland which saw service during the Italian invasion of the territory. Dubats was the designation given to armed irregular bands employed by the Italian Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali or colonial army, in Italian Somalia from 1924 to 1941. ...

The Somali National Army (SMA) was battle-tested in 1964 when the conflict with Ethiopia over the Somali-inhabited Ogaden erupted into warfare. On June 16, 1963, Somali guerrillas started an insurgency at Hodayo, in eastern Ethiopia, a watering place north of Werder, after Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie rejected their demand for self-government in the Ogaden. The Somali government initially refused to support the guerrilla forces, which eventually numbered about 3,000. However, in January 1964, after Ethiopia sent reinforcements to the Ogaden, Somali forces launched ground and air attacks across the Ethiopian border and started providing assistance to the guerrillas. The EAF responded with punitive strikes across its southwestern frontier against Feerfeer, northeaast of Beledweyne, and Galcaio. On March 6, 1964, Somalia and Ethiopia agreed to a cease-fire; at the end of the month, the two sides signed an accord in Khartoum, Sudan, agreeing to withdraw their troops from the border, cease hostile propaganda, and start peace negotiations. Somalia also terminated its support of the guerrillas 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Regional flag Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled OgadÄ“n, Somali: ) is a part of the Somali Region in Ethiopia. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ... Nickname: Khartoums location in Sudan Coordinates: Government  - Governor Abdul Halim al Mutafi Population (2005)  - Urban Over 1 Million For other uses, see Khartoum (disambiguation). ...

Somali National Army (SNA) prior to 1991

The army was organised into 12 divisions which comprise of 4 tank brigades, 45 mechanized and infantry brigades, 4 commando brigades, surface-to-air missile brigade, 3 artillery brigades, 30 field battalions, and an air defense battalion.

The serviceability of the equipment is poor and status is unknown.

• Centurion main battle tanks
• M47 Patton main battle tanks
• T-54/T-55 main battle tanks
• T-34 medium tanks
• M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks
• Panhard AML-90 armoured cars
• BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles
• BTR-40 and BTR-50 tracked armored personnel carriers
• BTR-60 and BTR-152 wheeled armored personnel carriers
• Fiat 6614/6616 armored personnel carriers
• BMR-600 armored personnel carriers
• BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles
• M198 155mm towed howitzers

The Centurion was the primary British Main Battle Tank of the immediate post-war era, and considered by many to be one of the best British tank designs of all time. ... The M47 Patton was the second tank of the Patton series, and one of the U.S armys principal main battle tanks of the Cold War, with models in service from the early 1950s to the late 1950s. ... The T-54 and T-55 tank series was the Soviet Unions front-line main battle tank from 1947 until 1962, and remains in service throughout the world to this day, especially by former client states of the Soviet Union. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The M41 Walker Bulldog was an American light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. ... United Nations Panhard AML. The Panhard AML( called the AML 245 by Panhard) 60/90 is a light armoured car with permanent 4x4 drive which gives it exceptional mobility. ... The BRDM-2 (Boyevaya Razvedyvatelnaya Dozornaya Mashina, Боевая Разведывательная Дозорная Машина, literally Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle †) is an armoured scout car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. ... The BTR-40 armored personnel carrier was developed in 1950 by a team headed by V. A. Dedkov and was produced from 1950 to 1958 at Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod. ... BTR-50P/PK recognition plate. ... The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. ... The BTR-152 was the Soviet armored personnel carrier. ... A TOW missile being fired from a Jeep. ... The M198 Howitzer during the Persian Gulf War The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece. ...

Air Defense Forces

The Air Defense Forces consisted of 7 brigades.

The serviceability of the equipment is poor and status is unknown.

• SA-3 Goa surface-to-air missiles (not operational)
• SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missiles (not operational)
• Strela 2 portable surface-to-air missiles (operational status unknown)
• P-12
• P-15 Termit - coastal defense surface to surface missiles
• P-30
• P-35

Two S-125 dual missile launcher trailers. ... An S-75 missile on camoflaged launcher An S-75 missile in elevated position An North Vietnamese S-75 site An S-75 missile in transit A Fan Song radar (left) and what looks like a Low Blow to the right The SA-2 Guideline is the NATO reporting name... A soldier posing with a Strela launcher. ... The P-15 Termit (Russian: ; English: ) was a type of missile developed by the Soviet Unions Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. ...

Air Force

After Independence (1960-1969)

Somali Hawker Hunter.

The air force, or Somali Aeronautical Corps was established after independence, and was first equipped with small numbers of mostly old Western aircraft, such as the Beech 18, (possibly six) C-47 Dakotas for transport tasks, a few Piaggio P. 148s and P-51D Mustangs used as fighters, and a pair of Bell 47 Sioux helicopters. When on 21 of October 1969 Siad Barre took over power, ending the Igaal reign and proclaiming Somalia to be a socialist state, a rapid modernisation took place. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sixteen Hunters of the RAF Black Arrows perform aerobatics at the Farnborough Air Show, England. ... Beechcraft 18/C-45 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force Beechcraft 18 on floats The Beechcraft Model 18 was a small six- to 11-place, twin-engine, low-wing, conventional-gear aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Witchita, Kansas. ... Douglas DC-3 VH-AES at Avalon in 2003. ... The North American P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the conflicts most successful and recognizable aircraft. ... Bell 47G Bell 47J Bell 47G in M*A*S*H paint scheme. ... Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre) (1919 – January 2, 1995) was the Head of State of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ...

Soviet Influence (1969-1978)

Somali Hunters at a military parade.

In the beginning of the 1970s, Somalia and the USSR signed a friendship deal, which included the provision of a large number of modern weapons, advisors, training and maintenance. The air force expanded rapidly, and was at the time one of the most advanced in eastern Africa. The first squadron of jet fighters was equipped with the Mig-15 'Fagot' (Nato codename), along with some Mig-15UTI 'Midget' double seaters for conversional training. Also provided were small numbers of transport aircraft: An-2 Colt biplanes, An-24 Cokes, some Il-18 Coots and at least one An-26 'Curl'. Yak-11 'Moose' trainers and a few Mi-4 'Hound' piston-engined helicopters were also added to the inventory. The respected Il-28 'Beagle' was also rumored to have been in service, albeit in very small numbers. Later on, the Soviets sold more modern jets: a large number (at least two fully equipped squadrons) of Mig-17 'Fresco' subsonic jet fighters, and a smaller number of Mig-21F and Mig-21MF 'Fishbed' supersonic point defence fighters, and possibly twelve Mi-8 'Hip' turbine powered transport helicopters. The advanced Mig-23 is also rumoured to have visited Somalia in the seventies, but it is very unlikely they were actually in use by the Somali Aeronautical Corps, which by now had changed its name to Somali Air Force or SAF. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (NATO reporting name Fagot) was a jet fighter developed for the USSR. History Design began under the bureau designation I-310, which first flew in 1947. ... The Antonov An-2 (Russian nickname: кукуру́зник (kukuruznik); NATO code name Colt) is an extremely durable, light, single-engine biplane which first flew in 1947. ... The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport manufactured in USSR (now Ukraine) by the Antonov Design Bureau. ... Two aircraft have shared the designation Ilyushin Il-18 The first was a propeller-driven airliner of 1946 based on the B-29 Superfortress. ... The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a 2-engined light prop transport aircraft and is a development of the An-24. ... The Yakovlev Yak-11 (NATO reporting name: Moose, Russian: Як-11) was a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force and other Soviet-influenced air forces from 1947 until 1962. ... The Mil Mi-4 (originally known to US intelligence as the Type-36 and later by the NATO reporting name Hound) was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles. ... The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force and was the USSRs first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. ... MiG-17 at the Central Texas Airshow, USA, May 2003. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... A United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in transonic flight. ... Russian Mi-8 Hip The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a large transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger). ...

The Ogaden War (1977 - 1978)

Somali tanks and Infantry crossing the Ogaden.

During the 1970s the SAF or Somali air force had proven to be useful to suppress the many violent uprisings that took place in Somalia, but its achievements in a first 'real' war turned out to be a disappointment. Dreams of a 'Greater Somalia' and Somalian support of the WNLF-rebels, active inside the Ethiopian part of the Ogaden, led Siad Barre's regime to start an invasion of the Ethiopian Ogaden province, in 1977. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, bicycles, or other means. ... Regional flag Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled Ogadēn, Somali: ) is a part of the Somali Region in Ethiopia. ... Flag of Somalia, the five edges of the star are said to symbolize the five parts of Greater Somalia Greater Somalia refers to those regions in the Horn of Africa in which ethnic Somalis live. ...

The territory had always been a disputed part of Ethiopia, and its mostly nomadic inhabitants were closely related to the Somalian people. Aided by more than 250 tanks and 300 armoured vehicles^{[citation needed]} (the largest armoured army in sub Saharic Africa at the time), some 23000 soldiers marched towards the west and at first brought almost 90% of the Ogaden province under Somalian control.^{[citation needed]}

The SAF was ordered to protect the forces and to offer close air support on the battlefield. By this time however, Ethiopia itself had sought assistance of the Soviet Union, the latter being forced to drop Somalia as a client state because of the Ogaden war. The SAF, not only strongly reliant on Soviet equipment but moreover on Soviet assistance, training and maintenance (even some pilots), suffered badly from these recent political changes. At first it had at least been able to provide the army with close air support, but by the time the invasion was halted by the regrouping Ethiopian forces, the SAF lost momentum.

Worst of all, after the souring of Soviet-Somalian relations, Cuba had joined the Ethiopian efford to reclaim the Ogaden province, and modern Mil-24 'Hind' attack helicopters, flown by Cuban pilots, proved to be devastating to the old and relatively thin-armoured Somalian T-34 and T-54/55 tanks. The SAF was unable to stop the onslaught, and shortly after, the Somali army was defeated and driven out of the Ethiopian part of the Ogaden in the end of 1978. Tensions remained however, and some three years later the conflict rekindled for another round of Ethiopian-Somali bloodshed. By this time the SAF was degraded to the extent that it played almost no significant role in the area anymore. The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The T-55 and T-54 main battle tanks were the Soviet Unions replacements for the World War II era T-34 tank. ...

The Difficult Decade (1978-1991)

After the loss of Soviet assistance, and the loss of equipment in the Ogaden, the SAF tried to maintain itself by getting help from other sources. First of all, relationships with the U.S. improved in the wake of the Cold War conflict in the Horn of Africa, and with Ethiopia getting a lot of Soviet military assistance, the SAF received in turn some American assistance as well, but not nearly enough to rebuilt the squadrons.

A Bell AB204B Iroquois and some AB206 Jet rangers and maybe a CH-47 Chinook were provided and a couple of unarmed Cessna trainers, but the SAF had to turn to other sources. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. ...

A lot of Italian equipment reached Somalia: three Douglas C-47s, at least two Aelitalia G.222L medium transport planes and some twelve SIAI SF. 260 Warriors light trainers/coin aircraft (six SF.260Ms, six SF.260Ws), "a few" Agusta-Bell AB.212s, plus three Piaggio P.166s.^[3] The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota was a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. ... The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) is a non-profit organization founded in 2000 to develop safe artificial intelligence software, and to raise awareness of both the dangers and potential benefits it believes AI presents. ...

China provided 40 F-6C 'Farmer' jet fighters (Chinese Mig-19 copies)^[4], and FT-6 double seat fighter trainers in 1983. Zimbabwean private contractors overhauled and repaired some Mig-21 jet fighters, and maybe a few Chinese F-7's 'Fishbed'(Mig-21 copies) fighters were provided. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 (NATO reporting name Farmer) is a third-generation Soviet, single-seater jet engined fighter aircraft. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ...

Libya provided three Antonov An-26 transports and several Mil Mi-8 helicopters. The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a 2-engined light prop transport aircraft and is a development of the An-24. ... The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a large twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ...

Also, Abu Dhabi gave 6 or 8 used Hawker Hunter FGA.76's ground attack fighters and one Hawker Hunter T.77 double-seat trainer, which were flown by South African and Rhodesian mercenaries, while the Zimbabwean repair crews provided their maintenance. New transport aircraft were also added from a number of western European sources: 6 C-212 Aviocars and some 4 BN-2 Islanders were acquired. In the 80s the SAF consisted of: Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ... Sixteen Hunters of the RAF Black Arrows perform aerobatics at the Farnborough Air Show, England. ... Southern Rhodesia, todays Zimbabwe. ...

• one fighter squadron equipped with Mig-21s (or F-7s)
• two fighter squadrons equipped with some 20 remaining Mig-17s (spare parts from China F-5 or through cannibalization of grounded Mig-17s)
• one ground attack squadron equipped with the 7 or 9 (ex Abu-Dhabi) Hawker FGA.76 Hunters
• two ground attack/fighter squadrons equipped with some 20 Chinese F-6s
• one training/counter-insurgency squadron equipped with 12 SIAI SF.260 Warriors
• one helicopter squadron equipped with a mix of remaining Mil-4's, Mil-8's and western Agusta Bell AB 204B and AB 206 helicopters
• one transport squadron equipped with a mix of remaining An-2s and An-24s, and 6 new C-212 Aviocars and a few BN-2 Islanders.

The national carrier airline, Air Somalia, equipped with 5 Boeing 707s, could also provide some transport capacity. The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ...

However, due to the costs of the first and second ongoing Ogaden conflict, the worldwide economic problems, and some severe droughts in the Horn of Africa, the Somalian economy collapsed halfway the '80s and funding for the rather large air force dried up. Still the SAF managed to deploy some squadrons to fight rebels in the north of Somalia in the late '80s. The Horn of Africa. ...

The End of the SAF (1991)

With the fall of the Siad Barre's regime in 1991, a civil war ignited and chaos roamed free in Somalia. Funding for any government activity, including the SAF, ended immediately, and the remains of the SAF were photographed in a derelict state at Mogadishu airport in 1993.

Navy

As of 1991, the navy was not operational. Prior to that, the Somali navy consisted of:

• Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft (2)
• Mol PFT torpedo-armed fast attack craft (4)
• Polnocny class landing ship

Osa I (Project 205) craft The Osa class is the Nato reporting name for a group of Fast attack craft, developed for the Soviet Navy in the early 1960s. ... The Polnocny (or Polnochny)-class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. ...

Somali Police force

Mogadishu,Somalia 1964: Tom J Farer helped train the Somali National Police force.

In 1960 the British Somaliland Scouts joined with the Police Corps of Somalia to form a new Somali Police Force, which consisted of about 3,700 men. The authorities also organized approximately 1,000 of the force as the Darawishta Poliska, a mobile group used to keep peace between warring clans in the interior. Since then, the government has considered the SPF a part of the armed forces. It was not a branch of the SNA, however, and did not operate under the army's command structure. Until abolished in 1976, the Ministry of Interior oversaw the force's national commandant and his central command. After that date, the SPF came under the control of the presidential adviser on security affairs. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. ...

Each of the country's administrative regions had a police commandant; other commissioned officers maintained law and order in the districts. After 1972 the police outside Mogadishu comprised northern and southern group commands, divisional commands (corresponding to the districts), station commands, and police posts. Regional governors and district commissioners commanded regional and district police elements.

Under the parliamentary regime, police received training and material aid from West Germany, Italy, and the United States. Although the government used the police to counterbalance the Soviet-supported army, no police commander opposed the 1969 army coup. During the 1970s, German Democratic Republic (East Germany) security advisers assisted the SPF. After relations with the West improved in the late 1970s, West German and Italian advisers again started training police units.

By the late 1970s, the SPF was carrying out an array of missions, including patrol work, traffic management, criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, and counterinsurgency. The elite mobile police groups consisted of the Darawishta and the Birmadka Poliska (Riot Unit). The Darawishta, a mobile unit that operated in remote areas and along the frontier, participated in the Ogaden War. The Birmadka acted as a crack unit for emergency action and provided honor guards for ceremonial functions.

In 1961 the SPF established an air wing, equipped with Cessna light aircraft and one Douglas DC-3. The unit operated from improvised landing fields near remote police posts. The wing provided assistance to field police units and to the Darawishta through the airlift of supplies and personnel and reconnaissance. During the final days of Siad Barre's regime, the air wing operated two Cessna light aircraft and two DO-28 Skyservants.

Technical and specialized police units included the Tributary Division, the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Traffic Division, a communications unit, and a training unit. The CID, which operated throughout the country, handled investigations, fingerprinting, criminal records, immigration matters, and passports.

In 1961 the SPF established a women's unit. Personnel assigned to this small unit investigated, inspected, and interrogated female offenders and victims. Policewomen also handled cases that involved female juvenile delinquents, ill or abandoned girls, prostitutes, and child beggars.

Service units of the Somali police included the Gadidka Poliska (Transport Department) and the Health Service. The Police Custodial Corps served as prison guards. In 1971 the SPF created a fifty-man national Fire Brigade. Initially, the Fire Brigade operated in Mogadishu. Later, however, it expanded its activities into other towns, including Chisimayu, Hargeysa, Berbera, Merca, Giohar, and Beledweyne.

Beginning in the early 1970s, police recruits had to be seventeen to twenty-five years of age, of high moral caliber, and physically fit. Upon completion of six months of training at the National Police Academy in Mogadishu, those who passed an examination would serve two years on the force. After the recruits completed this service, the police could request renewal of their contracts. Officer cadets underwent a nine-month training course that emphasized supervision of police field performance. Darawishta members attended a six-month tactical training course; Birmadka personnel received training in public order and riot control. After Siad Barre fled Mogadishu in January 1991, both the Darawishta and Birmadka forces ceased to operate, for all practical purposes. 20 December 2005 saw the opening of the first Police academy by Prime Minister Gedi in Armo 100 km south of Bosaso December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Gede (also knowns as Gedi) is a village on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, lying south of Malindi and north of Watamu. ... Country Italy Region Liguria Province Province of Imperia (IM) Mayor Elevation m Area 9. ... To help compare orders of magnitude; this page lists lengths between 100 and 1,000 km (105 and 106 m). ... Bosaaso (formerly Bander Qassim) is the fourth largest city in Somalia and the main port of Somalia since the start of the Somali Civil War in 1991. ...

Military Expenditures

Military spending in Somalia is difficult to calculate. Officially, there is a UN ban on weapon sales to the nation. However, weapons possession and open sale of AK-47s, is prevalent in Somalia.^[5] Besides the formal military of the Transitional Federal Government, there are armed forces of autonomous provinces, such as Puntland, private militias of warlords and clans, and personal stockpiles of arms. Open arms bazaars, such as in the Bakaara Market, sell small arms and light weapons, antiaircraft guns, rockets and missiles. Weapons trafficking to Somalia is illegal and done on the black market.^[6][7] The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Motto None Anthem Puntland Somali National Anthem Capital Garowe (Administrative), Bosaso (Commercial) Largest city Bosaso Official languages Somali and Arabic Government  -  President Mohamud Muse Hersi  -  Vice-President Hassan Dahir Mohamud Autonomy Inside Somalia   -  Declared 1998   -  Recognition   Area  -  Total 212,510 km km² (84th) n/a sq mi   -  Water (%) Negl. ... The Bakaara Market (Somali: Suuqa Bakaaraha) is a Mogadishu open market and the largest in Somalia. ...

The following figures are CIA estimates of the economy and arms market in Somalia:

• GDP: $4.809 billion (2005 est.)^[8]
• Percent of GDP spent on military: 0.9% (2005 est.)^[8]
• Estimated expenditures: $43.28 million (gross calculation based on above figures)

Transitional National Government (TNG) Army (2000–2004)

Further information: Transitional National Government

The predecessor to the TFG was the Transitional National Government (TNG), which was national only in name. It had little control of the country, but had the recognition of the UN and international powers. It was militarily opposed by many factions in the Somali Civil War, notably the rival Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC). The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic (Somali: ; often Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya) is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic (Somali: ; often Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya) is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988. ... The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (abbreviated SRRC) was a political movement, as well as an armed militia, founded by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ...

• Commander: General Ismail Qasim Naji, appointed in January 2002.^[9][10]
• Strength: The TNG army in March 2002 numbered 2,010 men and 90 women.^[11]

General Ismail Qasim Naji (or Ismail Kassim Naji) was the chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and currently the Somali ambassador in Oman. ... 2002 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for January, 2002. ... 2002 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for March, 2002. ...

Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Army

TFG Ministry of Defense

Main article: TFG Ministry of Defense

Due to the Somali Civil War there is presently no single recognized national army of Somalia. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has its own forces reporting directly to the TFG Ministry of Defense. Main article: Military of Somalia The armed forces of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia report to the Ministry of Defense. ... The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004. ... Main article: Military of Somalia The armed forces of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia report to the Ministry of Defense. ...

There are also TFG-allied forces reporting to the semi-autonomous governments of Puntland, Southwestern Somalia, Jubaland (called the Juba Valley Alliance - JVA), and Galmudug, plus confederated tribes and independent warlords. Motto None Anthem Puntland Somali National Anthem Capital Garowe (Administrative), Bosaso (Commercial) Largest city Bosaso Official languages Somali and Arabic Government  -  President Mohamud Muse Hersi  -  Vice-President Hassan Dahir Mohamud Autonomy Inside Somalia   -  Declared 1998   -  Recognition   Area  -  Total 212,510 km km² (84th) n/a sq mi   -  Water (%) Negl. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Jubaland shown on a map of Somalia in yellow: regions 7 (Gedo), 9 (Middle Juba), and 10 (Lower Juba) Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland) or Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), formerly Trans-Juba (Italian: ), is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Juba River (thus Trans-Juba), bordering... Motto: None Anthem: Somalia Tosow Capital (and largest city) Galcayo Official languages Somali and English Government  - President Mohamed Warsame Ali Autonomy Part of Federated Somalia   - Declared August 14, 2006   - Recognition self-elected state autonomy  Area  - Total 100,000 km² (not ranked) ~40,000 sq mi   - Water (%) Negl. ...

• The Islamic Courts Union (ICU) had competing forces comprised of different levels of professional soldiers, allied tribal militias, warlords, and mujahedeen.

• The de facto independent state of Somaliland also maintains its own army.

There is little formal order of the present TFG army. No strict Order of Battle has emerged. Units are mostly based on tribal militia or are the personal followers of warlords. Typical discussions of brigades, regiments and other formal structure are meaningless. Discipline is low, as forces join, defect, and abandon fighting on a common basis.^[12][13] However, a cadre of more professional soldiers has emerged, trained by Ethiopian advisors.^[14] Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized... Mujahideen (مجاهدين; also transliterated as mujāhidīn, mujahedeen, mujahedin, mujahidin, mujaheddin, etc. ... Motto لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله  (Arabic) Lā ilāhā illā-llāhu; muhammadun rasÅ«lu-llāhi  (transliteration) There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah And also : Justice, Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Success for All Anthem Saamo ku waar Capital Hargeisa (1941-1960) (1991 - present) Official languages Somali and... An order of battle (often abbreviated as ORBAT, OOB, or OB) is an organizational tool used by military intelligence to list and analyze enemy military units. ... Lebanese Kataeb militia A Militia is an organization of citizens to provide defense, emergency or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... A warlord is a person with power who has de facto military control of a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. ...

Military Commanders of the TFG

• General Abdulahi Ali Omar - Army chief-of-staff for the TFG appointed February 10, 2007^[15]
• General Ismail Qasim Naji - Army chief-of-staff for the TFG appointed in April 2005^[16] and replaced February 10, 2007 by Abdulahi Ali Omar^[15]; formerly military chief of the TNG 2002–2004^[9][10]; went on to become Ambassador to Oman
• Colonel Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale - Minister of Defense, former Colonel (commander) of the Juba Valley Alliance (see Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006) and Battle of Baidoa)
• General Cali Mohammad Hassan Looyaan - National Police Commander, and military commander of the autonomous state of Gedo Armed Forces
• Colonel Abdulahi Sheik Fara-Tag - was named as the commander of 2nd Brigade^[17], the TFG forces defending Bardhere from attack.^[18]
• Colonel Muktar Hussein Afrah - Commander of TFG forces in Beledweyne
• Colonel Aden Mahamud Ibrahim - Chief Commander of 1st Army Division, TFG forces
• Colonel Said "Dhere" Mohamed Hirsi - Led taking of Burkhaba from the ICU in October 2006 (see Battle of Baidoa)^[19]
• Ibrahim Batari - involved in fighting around Iidale, December 2006 (see Battle of Baidoa)^[20]
• Colonel Abdirisak Afgadud (alternately spelled Abdulrasaq Afgebub) - cited as a TFG military divisional commander, who claimed prematurely the TFG had prevailed at the Battle of Ras Kamboni: "Our forces accompanied by our Ethiopian friends have totally cracked down on the remnants of the Islamists in the border area."^[21][22]

February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... General Ismail Qasim Naji (or Ismail Kassim Naji) was the chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and currently the Somali ambassador in Oman. ... April 2005 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → Hamas and Islamic Jihad have declared, in principle, their intention to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Superscript text Barre Aadan Shire Barre Adan Shire (Somali: ), also known as Barre Hiiraale, Barre Hirale Aden Shire, or Abdikadir Adan Shire[1], is the Minister of Defense of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was formed in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2004. ... Main article: Military of Somalia The armed forces of the Transitional Federal Government of the Republic of Somalia report to the Ministry of Defense. ... Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland) or Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), formerly Trans-Juba (Italian: ), is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Juba River (thus Trans-Juba), bordering on Kenya. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Alleged: Eritrea Foreign Jihadists ARPCT, comprising Various Warlords Transitional Federal Government Puntland Autonomous Region Rahanweyn Resistance Army Ethiopia[1] Alleged:  Uganda[2] Commanders Muhammad Ibraheem Bilal Hasan Hersi Turki Yusuf Siad Inda-Addeh Mukhtar Robow Adan Ayrow Barre Adan Shire Hirale (Jubaland), Abdi... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Alleged:  Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1] Casualties 700 dead or wounded (TFG claim) SomaliNet 400 killed (ICU claim) [1] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Governments forces (TFG) allied with Ethiopian... Colonel Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag, also known as Abdulahi Ismael, is a commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Republic of Somalia. ... Bardera City (Somali Baardheere) is an important agricultural and academic city in the Gedo region of Somalia. ... Colonel Muktar Hussein Afrah is an officer in the army of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union  Ethiopia Casualties 60 killed [1] 12 taken prisoner The Battle of Beledweyne occured on December 24 to December 25, 2006 when Ethiopian troops seized that Somalian town from Islamic Courts Union fighters, according to some news agencies. ... October 2006 is the tenth month of that year and has yet to occur. ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Alleged:  Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1] Casualties 700 dead or wounded (TFG claim) SomaliNet 400 killed (ICU claim) [1] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Governments forces (TFG) allied with Ethiopian... December 2006 is the twelfth and final month of the year and will begin in 2 day(s). ... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters Alleged:  Eritrea Transitional Federal Government Ethiopia[1] Casualties 700 dead or wounded (TFG claim) SomaliNet 400 killed (ICU claim) [1] The Battle of Baidoa began on December 20, 2006 when the Somali Transitional Federal Governments forces (TFG) allied with Ethiopian... Combatants Islamic Courts Union Pro-Islamist Militias Foreign fighters[1] Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Ethiopia United States Commanders Sharif Sheik Ahmed Yusuf Hassan TFG: Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale Col. ...

Estimated Militia Strengths

Force estimates from 2004.^[23] Yet allegiances change rapidly in Somalia, and many warlords lost their power base after the Second Battle of Mogadishu and other actions during the Somali Civil War. Militias in Somalia have been known to recruit child soldiers.^[24] Combatants Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism Militia loyal to the Islamic Court Union Commanders Mohamed Qanyare, Muse Sudi, Nuur Daqle Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Strength unknown unknown Casualties unknown unknown The Second Battle of Mogadishu was a battle fought for control of Mogadishu, the capital city of...

Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland) or Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), formerly Trans-Juba (Italian: ), is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Juba River (thus Trans-Juba), bordering on Kenya. ... Jubaland shown on a map of Somalia in yellow: regions 7 (Gedo), 9 (Middle Juba), and 10 (Lower Juba) Jubaland (Somali: Jubbaland) or Juba Valley (Somali: Dooxada Jubba), formerly Trans-Juba (Italian: ), is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Juba River (thus Trans-Juba), bordering... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia. ... The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (abbreviated SRRC) was a political movement, as well as an armed militia, founded by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ... Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre) (1919 – January 2, 1995) was the Head of State of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) is a Somali alliance made by powerfull warlords and businesspeople, while some of them were ministers in the transitional federal government of Somalia. ... Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid is a Somali warlord whose forces fought on behalf of the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism against the Islamic Courts Union in the 2nd Battle of Mogadishu. ... Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, who is also known as Mohamed Qanyare, Mohamed Qanyare Afrah or Maxamed Qanyare Afrax (born c. ... A technical in Liberia. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Motto: None Anthem: Somalia Tosow Capital (and largest city) Galcayo Official languages Somali and English Government  - President Mohamed Warsame Ali Autonomy Part of Federated Somalia   - Declared August 14, 2006   - Recognition self-elected state autonomy  Area  - Total 100,000 km² (not ranked) ~40,000 sq mi   - Water (%) Negl. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Rahanwein Resistance Army. ... Colonel Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud (Shatigadud means red shirt) is a notable Somali warlord, and chairman of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA), which sought to establish the autonomous state of Southwestern Somalia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... Mohamed Omar Habeb, also known as Mohamed Dhere, is a Somali warlord based out of the city of Jowhar. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ... REDIRECT Mohamud Muse Hersi Adde ... Motto None Anthem Puntland Somali National Anthem Capital Garowe (Administrative), Bosaso (Commercial) Largest city Bosaso Official languages Somali and Arabic Government  -  President Mohamud Muse Hersi  -  Vice-President Hassan Dahir Mohamud Autonomy Inside Somalia   -  Declared 1998   -  Recognition   Area  -  Total 212,510 km km² (84th) n/a sq mi   -  Water (%) Negl. ... The Transitional Federal Parliament is the parliament of Somalia. ...

New Plans for the Somali Army

Before the recent actions in the Somali Civil War, Somalia's new government had plans for an army of 30,000 men, with the first 6,000 to be funded and trained by Italian advisors, using a cadre training method: "One hundred and twenty foreign trainers will train 500 ex-Somalia Army soldiers, who will in their turn train the 6,000 men."^[23] Look up cadre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

New official international plans for Somali army training are those endorsed through the December 6, 2006 United Nations Security Council-sanctioned mission known as IGASOM.^[29] This mission has the endorsement of the African Union, and the union of Horn of Africa nations known as IGAD. However, to date no IGASOM-sanctioned troops have arrived in Somalia to assist the TFG. December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... “UNSC” redirects here. ... The IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia or IGASOM, is an Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional peacekeeping force to Somalia which was approved by the African Union on September 14, 2006. ... Anthem Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together Administrative center Largest city Cairo, Egypt Leaders  -  Chairperson John Kufuor  -  Alpha Oumar Konaré Establishment  -  as the OAU May 25, 1963   -  as the African Union July 9, 2002  Membership 53 African states Area  -  Total 29,757,900 km² (1st2)  sq mi  Population  -  2005... The Horn of Africa. ... The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a seven-country regional development organization in Eastern Africa. ...

Beyond the scope of the UN provisions, Ethiopia admitted it provided military advisors to the nascent TFG even before the outbreak of the war on December 20, 2006, contraverting the Security Council's emphasis that according to the "IGAD Deployment Plan that those States that border Somalia would not deploy troops in Somalia." This limits the IGASOM mission eligibility to the nations of Uganda, Eritrea, and Sudan, since Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti (through the internationally unrecognized state of Somaliland) all border Somalia. Military advisors, or combat advisors, are soldiers sent to foreign nations to aid that nation with its military training, organization, and other various military tasks. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Even as the UNSC debated the motion to allow a lifting of the arms and training embargo on Somalia, Ethiopia publicly admitted its advisors were in Somalia, such as in this statement quoted at the time: "Ethiopia admitted it only has several hundred military advisors and trainers in Somalia to protect the impotent Somali government based in Baidoa, 250 km southwest of the capital."^[30]

Meanwhile, the ICU army was funded from a variety of alleged unofficial sources. Motto: none Anthem: none Capital formerly Mogadishu and Kismayu Largest city n/a Official languages Somali and Arabic Government Sharia Krytocracy  - Executive Chairman Sharif Sheikh Ahmed  - Shura Chairman Hassan Dahir Aweys Civil War Faction Has not declared autonomy or independence   - Established June 6th 2006 in Mogadishu  Area  - Total not finalized...

With the recent de facto state of affairs in Somalia, the future is unclear regarding international support and funding of the Somali military.

See also

• Somalia
• Somali Air Corps

Somali Hawker hunter Somali Air Force - translation of the original designation meant actually „Somali Air Corps“ (SAC) - was originally established with Italian aid, in the early 1960s. ...

References

• Somalia, 1980-1996 ACIG
• Somalia: Foreign Military Assistance SomaliNet
• Somali Hunters
• "Weapons at War", a World Policy Institute Issue Brief by William D. Hartung, , May 1995, chapter III: Strengthening Potential Adversaries (12th paragraph), Somalia.

Notes