Somalia is set to dispatch the first group of newly recruited special forces personnel to Egypt for advanced military training, marking a significant step in the implementation of the recent defense cooperation agreement between Mogadishu and Cairo, sources familiar with the arrangements told Mustaqbal Media.

The contingent, comprising approximately 50 recruits, is expected to depart from Mogadishu in the coming hours. The trainees are young entrants to military service who have undergone initial preparatory instruction in recent weeks at a Somali National Army facility. According to sources, candidates were subjected to a preliminary screening and evaluation process, with only those who met the required standards selected for the overseas program.

The training in Egypt will reportedly be delivered by a joint team of experienced military instructors from Egypt and Turkey. Sources indicate that specialized trainers from both countries are already stationed at the designated facility in Egypt where the Somali personnel will receive advanced instruction.

The initiative forms part of Somalia’s broader strategy to enhance the operational capacity and professionalism of its armed forces across the air, land, and naval domains. In recent years, the federal government has intensified security cooperation with partner states, seeking to modernize equipment, strengthen institutional capabilities, and develop a new generation of trained personnel.

The development follows the signing of a military cooperation agreement between Egypt and Somalia. During a recent meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Cairo reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Somalia’s efforts to reinforce national security and institutional stability.

Officials view the deployment of the first cohort as an early and tangible outcome of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, underscoring Somalia’s continued focus on rebuilding and professionalizing its security sector amid ongoing stabilization efforts.