Beledweyne Airport is the stage of a historic transition. For the first time in Somalia, on 22 August 2025, the Beledweyne Firefighter Community Service, and the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) began working alongside UNSOS Aviation to conduct joint Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) operations. The capacity building initiative by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) for the Somali civilian firefighters aims to support the taking over of operations, marking a major step toward national ownership of critical aviation services.

Through intensive training, coaching, and mentorship led by UNSOS, the SCAA ARFF team in Beledweyne is preparing to assume responsibilities, advancing Somalia’s transition to a civilian-led ARFF capability. This represents a significant achievement for Somalia and an important milestone for the UNSOS Integrated Capacity Building Programme.

More than a technical handover, this important step reflects determination, partnership, and the fulfilment of a dream shared by a group of local firefighters from Beledweyne who, just months earlier, had voiced their aspiration to one day receive the UNSOS advanced Aviation Firefighting training and serve their community and the airport at the highest professional level.

Among them is Addifataah Muhudiin, an electromechanical engineer who has volunteered as a firefighter for more than two years.

“I became a fire fighter after realizing the need for a firefighter in the region, more so in Beledweyne, where several fire incidents destroyed properties such as houses, shops and farmlands after the local people failed to contain the infernos as they were using buckets and other small equipment that was not sufficient to fight the fires”, he explained in early September during the mentorship phase. “My biggest motivation was, therefore, the need to support our people after watching them lose their property to fires and we could not help.”

As his role expanded to the airport, Muhudiin quickly realised that aviation firefighting required a different level of expertise. “Firstly, we have received one training and we want to provide additional firefighting services so that we can contain all forms of infernos, affecting vehicles, aircrafts, houses, shops, farmlands and other properties”, he said, expressing his wish to join UNSOS’s capacity-building programme.  

From Joint Operations to National Leadership

Since August, 22 firefighters and their team leader have been receiving daily mentorship from UNSOS Aviation specialists, aligning their procedures, coordination, and safety protocols with international ARFF standards.

During the mentorship phase in September, Kenedid Hussein Sandhool, team leader of the Beledweyne fire brigade, reflected on what motivated him to join the service.

“When I saw the needs in my region, and that the whole community wanted to have firefighters, I decided to become one. I wanted to always stand with my community, to serve them with sacrifice, and to carry out what I was entrusted to do,” he said, adding, “we are pleased with what we learned from the basic training.”

Speaking on behalf of the Beledweyne Firefighting Department, Sandhool underscored the purpose of the training and emphasised its wider impact: “What UNSOS teaches us, we will pass on to the community, and they will benefit from it”.

To further strengthen the team, UNSOS facilitated their participation in an advanced four-week Aviation Rescue and Firefighting training, conducted in two batches, from 16 November to 17 December 2025 and from 21 January to 25 February 2026.

A Graduation That Marked More Than a Certificate

The culmination of this journey came on 17 December 2025, during a graduation ceremony at Beledweyne Airport that symbolised not only the completion of training, but the realisation of a long-held aspiration.

The first batch of 11 firefighters graduated from the specialised four-weeks course, held from 16 November to 17 December, which combined theory and intensive practical exercises in emergency response, fire prevention, and life-saving techniques. The training was delivered by UNSOS Aviation as part of its commitment to strengthening community-based emergency response and resilience.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ali Sartaj, UN Regional Administration Officer in Beledweyne, highlighted the uniqueness of the partnership.

“I would like to thank first of all the elders and the local community, because they are the ones supporting us with resources, firefighting equipment and human capital,” he said. “This is a very unique partnership between the local community and the United Nations”.

For Kenedid Hussein Sandhool, leader of the Beledweyne firefighting team, the experience marked a turning point.

“I am happy to attend this training. This one-month training felt like six months because it combined theory and practical work. Before, I had limited skills in fighting fires in houses and markets. But now I am fully equipped with rescue and firefighting skills and eager to continue learning,” said Sandhool, during the graduation ceremony.

Abdihakim Mohamed Afrah, Coordinator at Hirshabelle State’s Ministry of Transport and Aviation in Hiiraan Region, described the training as a critical intervention for a town in need.

“Beledweyne town is in dire need of a firefighting team, and some of those needs have been addressed through this initiative. The trainees have acquired invaluable skills they did not have before. More capacity-building efforts will follow, and we are grateful to all who organised this workshop,” said Afrah.

The graduation ceremony, attended by representatives from UNSOS, UNTMIS, AUSSOM, and the Mogadishu Aviation College, reflected the collective commitment behind this achievement.

Looking Ahead

A second batch of firefighters will undergo advanced training from 21 January to 25 February 2026, further expanding the pool of qualified responders.

Local firefighters in Beledweyne, who now serve as the Lead Response Team, are expected to fully take over ARFF responsibilities 2026, further strengthening Somalia’s civilian-led aviation safety framework at the airport.