MOGADISHU, Somalia — A new cohort of Somalia’s Federal Darwish officers has completed training in Mogadishu, marking the fifth cycle of a European Union-supported programme aimed at strengthening the country’s policing institutions and preparing personnel for deployment.
The graduation was held in Mogadishu as the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) continued its support for the development of Somalia’s police capabilities. The latest cohort follows several previous training cycles conducted as part of the mission’s longer-term security-sector assistance.
EUCAP said in April that more than 400 Federal Darwish officers, including dozens of women, had graduated under its supervision through the first four cohorts. The mission describes the programme as one of its flagship initiatives, with EU police officers involved in planning, coordinating and evaluating the training.
The EU support comes as Somalia seeks to build security institutions capable of taking greater responsibility for policing and stabilization, particularly in areas affected by conflict. EUCAP says its work is intended to help the Somali Police Force develop sustainable policing capacity, including in areas recovered from armed groups.
The latest graduation also comes amid a broader European effort to support Somalia’s security institutions through training and professional development. In May, another EU-supported programme saw 120 Somali police officers, including 20 women, complete training designed to strengthen their ability to serve their communities.
For Somalia, the challenge extends beyond increasing the number of trained personnel. The effectiveness of new forces will depend on how well they are integrated into national security structures and how consistently they operate under professional standards, civilian oversight and the rule of law.
For the European Union, the training represents a longer-term approach to Somalia’s security needs: building national capacity and supporting Somali institutions rather than relying solely on international forces.
EUCAP Somalia’s wider mandate includes strengthening policing, rule-of-law and maritime-security capabilities, making the Darwish programme part of a broader EU engagement with Somalia’s security and institutional development.
