AUSSOM Launches One-Week EOD Training in Kismayo to Boost Somali-Led Security Operations.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) on Wednesday launched a one-week Route Search and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training course in Kismayo, aimed at “strengthening Somalia’s transition toward Somali-led security operations” .

The training, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), is designed to enhance the counter-IED (improvised explosive device) capabilities of the Jubaland Security Forces and improve the safety of security personnel operating in high-risk environments.

According to AUSSOM, the course focuses on practical skills in detecting, identifying, and safely neutralizing explosive threats along key supply routes and operational areas. These skills are critical as Somali forces increasingly assume responsibility for securing major roads, population centers, and strategic infrastructure.

Officials said the initiative supports broader efforts to reduce reliance on international forces while ensuring that Somali security units are equipped to manage threats posed by explosive remnants of war and IEDs commonly used by militant groups.

UNMAS emphasized that the training will also contribute to protecting civilians by minimizing the risk of accidental detonations and improving safe movement for both security forces and local communities.

The Kismayo program forms part of ongoing capacity-building efforts by AUSSOM and its partners to support stability in Jubaland and across Somalia, as the country advances toward full ownership of its security and counterterrorism operations.

Mustaqbal