152 Somali soldiers graduate from Turkish military camp

Some 152 soldiers graduated from Turkey’s largest overseas military training camp in Somalia, Turkish Defense Ministry announced Thursday. 

The graduates included 81 Somalian lieutenants and 71 sergeants, according to a statement by the ministry.

“I believe that the brotherly people of Somalia who are dealing with drought, hunger, civil war and terror will march to the future more confidently thanks to the qualified graduates of this campus, who will contribute to the security of their country,” said Hulusi Akar, Turkish defense minister, in his message to graduates, as quoted by the statement.

“Our brothers who have graduated today will take the deep historical bonds of brotherhood among us even further,” he added.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo attended the ceremony along with Turkish and Somali military and civilian personnel.

Turkey opened its largest overseas military training camp in Mogadishu in September 2017.

The facility is spread over 4 square kilometers (1.54 square miles) and has the capacity to train more than 1,500 troops at a time.

It also holds three military residential complexes and schools.