Beletweyne, 6 June 2026 – Djibouti troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) today marked the 49th anniversary of the Djibouti National Defence Forces (DNDF) in Beletweyne, central Somalia.
The celebrations featured colourful military parades, traditional Djiboutian dances, and the laying of a wreath in honour of fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace in Somalia. Observed annually on 6 June, DNDF Day commemorates the establishment of the Djibouti National Defence Forces in 1977, the same year Djibouti gained independence from France.
AUSSOM Sector 4 Commander, Colonel Abdourahman Rayale praised the forces for their dedication, patriotism, and contribution to peace and stability both at home and abroad, particularly in Somalia, where Djiboutian troops have served since 2011.
“Today we are celebrating the 49th anniversary. This is a big day for us, and I wish to congratulate all Djiboutian forces wherever they are. We are in Somalia to defend against the Al-Shabaab enemy through our close collaboration with our Somali brothers in the Somali National Army,” said Col. Rayale.
“We are very happy to celebrate our anniversary with our Somali brothers, who came to our rescue many years ago when we were fighting the colonialists. Today, we are reciprocating that goodwill by helping them fight Al-Shabaab, and we hope to see Somalia peaceful and stable.”
Commander of the 13th DNDF Battalion, Lt. Col. Ahmed Adan Abdullahi read a message on behalf of Chief of the Defence Forces, General Ibrahim, who commended the troops serving in Somalia and wished them a happy Army Day anniversary.
“The Djiboutian 13th Battalion was deployed to Somalia to replace the 11th Battalion for peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian support under the auspices of AUSSOM. I wish to thank the forces for their bravery and for standing in solidarity with our Somali brothers,” the message read in part.
Col. Abdullahi Bare Elmi, Deputy Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) 27th Brigade based in Beletweyne, thanked the Djiboutian forces for supporting Somali security forces in defending the country’s security and stability.
“We are very happy to join our brothers, the Djiboutian people and their forces, particularly the AUSSOM Djiboutian contingent in Sector 4, who have stood with us in good and bad times. We have worked closely together for more than 14 years, and we will continue to cooperate on security matters,” said Col. Elmi.
For many soldiers, Army Day is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate service and sacrifice. The event also highlighted the strong partnership among AUSSOM forces, Somali security institutions, local authorities, and international partners.
Lt. Liban Yahya Abdi, Sector 4 Operations Officer, said he was proud to serve in his country’s armed forces and contribute to peace and stability efforts in Somalia.
“We are happy to celebrate our anniversary here in Somalia, and we are here to support the Somali people in the fight against terrorism. We work closely with the SNA, NISA, the police, and other security institutions in Somalia,” said Lt. Abdi.
For Sergeant Deksan Said Asoweh, celebrating Army Day is a reminder of the sacrifice and commitment required to help Somalia regain peace and stability.
“This is a big day for us, and we are happy to celebrate it by redoubling our efforts to strengthen our peacekeeping work here in Somalia for the benefit of its people,” said Sgt. Asoweh.
Beletweyne residents also paid tribute to the Djiboutian contingent, describing it as a dependable partner during difficult times.
“Hiilwalaal has stood with us in good and bad times. I remember when the Shabelle River burst its banks, the Djiboutian forces came to our rescue and helped many stranded people. Also, when we took up arms to fight Al-Shabaab, the Djiboutians supported us,” said Farhiya Adan, a businesswoman in Beletweyne.
The event was also attended by Sector 4 Deputy Commander, Gen. Shumet Talalow and other senior ENDF officers, United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) Head of Office in Hirshabelle Benjamin Jonah, UNSOS representatives, AUSSOM Sector 4 Police Commander, ASP Alexander Opare, senior Somali Police and SNA officers.