WThe Somali Armed Forces are the military forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Headed by the President as Commander in Chief, they are constitutionally mandated to ensure the nation's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
WThe Chief of Defence Force is the professional head of the Somali Armed Forces. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of all branches of the Somali military and thus is the direct superior to both the Chief of the Navy and the Chief of the Air Force. The post has however only been held by Army officers and the term limit is 2 years, typically the rank held by the Chiefs is the second highest rank and the highest available rank in peacetime in the Somali Armed Forces, that of Major General
WThe Chief of the Air Force is the head of aerial warfare operations and the administrative head of the Somali Air Force. They are under the Chief of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence (Somalia). The current Chief of the Air Force is Brigadier General Mohamud Sheikh Ali.
WThe Chief of the Navy is the head of the Naval operations and the administrative head in the Somali Navy, and is under the Chief of Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence (Somalia). The current Chief of the Navy is Rear Admiral Abaas Amiin Ali.
WThe Danab Brigade is a highly trained Somali National Army infantry/commando force. Its strikes have repeatedly raided land in quick succession previously held by Somali Al-Qaeda linked insurgents Al-Shabaab.
WThe Ministry of Defence is charged with co-ordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Somali Armed Forces. The President of Somalia is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the country. The Ministry of Defence provides policy framework and resources to the Armed Forces to discharge their responsibility in the context of the defence of the country. The Armed Forces under the Defence Ministry are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation. The current Minister of Defence of Somalia is Hassan Mohomed Amardanbe.
WThe National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Somali: Hay'ada Sirdoonka iyo Nabadsugida Qaranka (HSNQ) is the national intelligence agency of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It is in-charge of secret service, intelligence and covert operations. The main objective of (NISA) is to collect the intelligence data through different means and to safeguard the national interests. The job is to identify and block threats to the state and its citizens and to reinforce the country's security and safety according to the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The NISA is also closely intertwined with the National Armed Forces and regularly cooperates with them.
WThe Puntland Dervish Force is the official paramilitary division of the Puntland Security Force.
WThe Somali Air Force is the air force of Somalia. The Somali Aeronautical Corps (SAC) was the name of the Somali Air Force during the pre-independence (1954–1960) period. After 1960, when Somalia gained independence, the name changed to the Somali Air Force. SAF principal organizer and the first Somalia pilot Ali Matan Hashi became the founder as well as the Chief of SAF. The SAF at one point had the strongest airstrike capability in the Horn of Africa. Following the fall of the government in the early 1990s, the air force disbanded. A reconstituted Somali Central Government later relaunched the SAF in the 2010s, with its headquarters being reopened in 2015.
WThe Somali Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the Somali Armed Forces. Before independence in 1960, the Somali Navy was established in conjunction with the Italian Navy, the latter of which also helped maintain security in Somali waters. During the post-independence period, the Somali Navy mostly did maritime patrols so as to prevent ships illegally infringing on the nation's maritime borders. The Somali Navy and Somali Air Force also regularly collaborated. In addition, the Somali Navy carried out Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. It currently has a few land and amphibious battalions and the PMPF is under the naval jurisdiction.