28 July 2026 Mogadishu – Thirteen African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops have completed a rigorous eight-week Aviation Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training course aimed at strengthening emergency response capabilities across Somalia airports, aerodromes and Forward Operating Bases.
Organised by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), the training equipped the participants with advanced practical knowledge and operational skills in aviation safety covering aircraft fire suppression, rescue operations, equipment handling, emergency evacuation procedures, fitness assessments, and live-fire simulation exercises, among other topics.
Speaking at the closing and certificate award ceremony in Mogadishu, UNSOS Aviation Training Officer Idrissa Ezeh praised the graduates for their dedication and emphasised the impact of their specialised training.
“We expect you to fully utilise the knowledge you have gained here and put it into practice in the field, where you will be entrusted with the critical responsibility of managing fire emergencies wherever you are deployed,” said Ezeh.
Aziz Mustapa, the course’s lead instructor, welcomed the graduates to the professional firefighting community as they prepare to return to their respective sectors across Somalia.
“We expect these personnel to perform exceptionally in their areas of responsibility,” Mustapa said. “They are now fully capable of combatting aircraft, vehicle, and structural fires.”
UNSOS Senior Capacity Building Officer Mariel Ong praised the graduates for their commitment and the professionalism they demonstrated throughout the programme.
"Over the past eight weeks, you have shown outstanding commitment, resilience, and teamwork. It has been inspiring to see your confidence and technical skills grow with each stage of the training."
The training blended theoretical classroom modules with intensive hands-on practical scenarios to simulate real-world aerodrome emergencies.
For the participants, the specialised instruction provided vital technical know-how and renewed confidence to execute high-stakes operations.
Corporal Abdi Idriss Dahir, an AUSSOM peacekeeper from the Djiboutian contingent stationed at the Dhusamareb Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Galmudug State, reflected on the impact of the programme.
“Over the past two months, I have gained valuable knowledge, practical skills, and the confidence needed to perform my duties far more effectively,” said Cpl. Dahir.
Sergeant Emmanuel Niyubuntu of the Burundi National Defence Forces, currently deployed with the Jowhar Aviation Department, commended UNSOS for delivering timely, high-value training.
“This training has given me a much deeper understanding of how to extinguish fires, rescue people, and save both lives and critical property,” said Sgt. Niyubuntu.
Underscoring the critical nature of quick response times in aviation safety, Private Pius Nangai of the Ugandan contingent Battle Group 45 highlighted the high standards established during the course.
“This upgraded course will significantly boost my operational approach,” said Pte. Nangai. “As a firefighter, I know that in the event of an aircraft crash, we must respond within 90 seconds. I am now fully prepared to rescue and evacuate personnel during an aviation emergency.”
The graduates, drawn from the Burundian, Djiboutian, and Ugandan contingents, will return to their stations in Mogadishu and various operational sectors, significantly elevating aviation emergency readiness across UNSOS’s area of operations.
This initiative reinforces UNSOS’s ongoing commitment to building sustainable capacity within AUSSOM, the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and Somalia Civil Aviation Authorities (SCAA) through targeted, high-impact specialised training.
