Somali Navy

Somali Navy Ciidamada Badda Soomaaliya
Two Somali Navy missile boats in August 1983.
Country	Somalia
Allegiance
Branch	Navy
Garrison/HQ	Mogadishu, Somalia
Commanders
Current commander	Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed
Notable commanders	Mohammed Omar Osman

The Somali Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Somali Armed Forces.^{[citation needed]}

Before independence in 1960, the Somali Navy was established in conjunction with the Italian Navy, the latter of which also helped maintain security in Somali waters. During the post-independence period, the Somali Navy mostly did maritime patrols so as to prevent ships illegally infringing on the nation's maritime borders. The Somali Navy and Somali Air Force also regularly collaborated. In addition, the Somali Navy carried out Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.

Equipment included:

• 2 Osa-II missile-armed fast attack craft^[1]
• 1 Polnocny class landing ship^[2]

From 2009

In June 2009, the Somali navy was re-established with a new commander appointed: Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed. Up to 500 marines are training in Mogadishu with their training expected to finish in December 2009. They are the first batch of a 5000 strong navy force.^[3] In addition, a visiting Somali delegation to Turkey in 2011 tabled a request for two search-and-rescue ships and six coast guard boats. Worth some 250 million euros, it is intended to turn the new Somali navy into a stronger naval force capable of curbing piracy and protecting its coastline.^[4]

Following a Transitional Federal Government-Puntland cooperative agreement in August 2011 calling for the creation of a Somali Marine Force, of which the already established Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) would form a part, the Puntland administration resumed training of PMPF naval officials.^[5]

References