Division 43,

Somali National Army The Somali National Army ( Somali: ''Xooga Dalka Soomaaliyeed,'' lit. ''"Somali Ground Forces"'') is the ground forces component of the Somali Armed Forces, and is the largest out of the three service branches that make up the majority of the A ...

(Somali: ''Qeybta 43aad)'' is a division of the Somali National Army. Focused on the southern part of the country, it is headquartered in

Kismayo Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Kismanyy'', ar, كيسمايو, ; it, Chisimaio) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region. The cit ...

and covers the state of

Jubaland Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo t ...

Formations and battles

The division has two major subordinate formations, the 10th Brigade (Somali: ''Guutada 10aad)'', focused on the

Gedo Gedo ( so, Gedo, Maay: ''Gethy'', ar, جيذو, it, Ghedo or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. It was created in 1974 and is bordered by the Ogaden in E ...

region and

Middle Juba Middle Juba ( so, Jubbada Dhexe, Maay: ''Jubithy Dhahy'', ar, جوبا الأوسط, it, Medio Giuba) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Bu'aale, it is located in the autonomous Jubaland region. ...

and headquartered in Garbahaarey, and the 11th Brigade, focused on

Lower Juba Lower Juba ( so, Jubbada Hoose, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Jubithy Hoosy'', ar, جوبا السفلى, it, Basso Giuba) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somalia, gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Kismayo, it lie ...

and headquartered in Kismayo. In 2018, the 11th Brigade led an offensive north to the village of Baar-Sanguuni, leading to the capture of the village and the deaths of 7 militants. In November 2021, a joint offensive in the Gedo region by the 10th Brigade led to the capture of Barwaqo and Kabis from al-Shabaab. In January 2022, Al-Shabaab militants attacked a base of the 11th Brigade in Baar-Sanguuni, which was repelled. In March 2022, the 11th Brigade, alongside the

Jubaland Darawiish The Jubaland Darawiish Force is a paramilitary force that forms the security unit of Jubaland, an autonomous federated state in southern Somalia. The Jubaland Darawiish started operating under the administration of Ahmed Mohamed Islam, Ahmed Madob ...

conducted an operation against al-Shabaab near the village of Jamame, killing 10 militants and arresting 6 others. The division is commanded by General Aaden Kaalmooy.

Corruption and political issues

Following the establishment of the Interim Juba Administration and the election of

Ahmed Madobe Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaam Madobe ( so, Sheekh Axmed Maxamed Madoobe) is the President of the Jubaland State of Somalia. Background Islamic Courts Union As a member of Islamic Courts Union (ICU) Madobe was governor of Jubaland, in 2006. When ...

, the Jubaland government agreed to integrate up to 1,440 fighters of various militias and of the Darawiish into Division 43 and the SNA, along with another 1,440 new recruits and independent militias in 2015. However by January 2016, it was noticed that up to 500 troops had dropped out of the integration process. While there hadn't been any official SNA forces in the division until the inauguration in July 2015 in Kismayo, SNA paystubs had been reporting a consistent 3,034 personnel since 2013. This money had probably been going into the pockets of the few SNA personnel in administrative command of the division. Through 2020 and 2021, elements of the federal forces and Division 43 have been at heads with the local Darawiish forces, with a battle in Balad Hawo between 700 SNA troops against the Darawiish in May 2020, and fierce battles between Jubaland forces and SNA troops again in Balad Hawo in January 2021, leading to the capture of several hundred Jubaland soldiers. Somali minister of information

Osman Dubbe Osman Abokor Dubbe ( so, Cismaan Abokor Dubbe) is a Somali author, professor, and politician. He is the current Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Federal Government of Somalia. He belongs to the Ahmed Farah sub-division of the Habr ...

launched allegations that the Kenyan government was arming these militias, which they denied.

References

{{Reflist Military of Somalia Divisions (military units) Military units and formations established in 2015