In a significant move that underscores the deepening ties between Qatar and Somalia, the government of Doha has offered a major security assistance package to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, aimed at reinforcing Somalia’s ongoing fight against the Al-Shabaab militant group. The new support package comes at a critical time, as federal forces are engaged in heavy clashes across central Somalia, struggling to sustain momentum in an offensive that has faced setbacks in recent months.
The Qatari assistance includes logistics, training, intelligence sharing, and direct financial support for security sector institutions under the office of the president. Sources within Villa Somalia say a new agreement signed in Doha earlier this month will see the deployment of Qatari security consultants, along with donations of surveillance equipment, armored vehicles, and communication tools, specifically earmarked for use by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and the Presidential Guard.
The agreement follows months of quiet negotiations between Somali presidential advisors and Qatari security envoys. According to an official close to the talks, President Hassan personally requested Doha’s support, citing gaps in logistics and the urgent need for aerial surveillance in frontline areas.
“This is a targeted partnership,” said one official who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “Qatar is not just providing money. They’re stepping into training, coordination, and ensuring the president’s security apparatus is protected from within.”
Since returning to power in 2022, Hassan Sheikh has leaned heavily on Turkey for military training and drone support. Turkish-trained units form the backbone of several recent offensives in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states. However, with Turkish military advisors stretched and U.S. airstrikes limited to targeted strikes on high-value Al-Shabaab operatives, the president has faced growing frustration over the pace of military operations and the group’s ability to regroup and launch deadly retaliatory attacks.
Qatar’s entrance into the security sphere of Somalia marks a shift in its involvement in the Horn of Africa. For years, Doha focused primarily on humanitarian aid and political mediation. Now, by offering direct security support, it is entering the inner circle of the president’s allies a space long dominated by Turkey, the U.S., and, to a lesser extent, the UAE.
Critics, however, warn that Qatar’s deeper involvement risks entrenching factionalism within Somalia’s already fragile security sector. “You can’t have every foreign partner building its own elite force or backing parallel command chains,” said a former Somali intelligence officer. “That’s how we got here in the first place.”
Still, for Hassan Sheikh, the Qatari move is a win — both politically and operationally. It allows him to assert greater personal control over key security portfolios, at a time when some within the military are voicing concerns over the lack of centralized command. It also boosts his standing internationally, as he positions himself as a leader who can attract diverse international partners.
For now, all eyes are on whether Doha’s backing will translate into battlefield success — or if it will become just another chapter in Somalia’s long history of foreign-supported yet inconclusive wars against insurgency.
