Division 43, Somali National Army (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 (, , ; ) 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 city is situated southwest of the capital Mogadishu, near the mouth of the Jub ...

and covers the state of

Jubaland Jubaland (; ; ), or the Juba Valley (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies no more than east of the Jubba River, stretching from Dolow to the Indian Ocean, while its western si ...

Formations and battles

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

Gedo Gedo (, , , or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. The region was formed during 1974 and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province ...

region and

Middle Juba Middle Juba (, , ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somalia, gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Bu'aale, it is located in the States and regions of Somalia, autonomous Jubaland region. Middle Juba is bord ...

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

Lower Juba Lower Juba (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia. With its capital at Kismayo, it lies in the autonomous Jubaland region. Lower Juba is bordered by Kenya, the Somali regions of Gedo, Middle Juba (Jubbada Dhex ...

and headquartered in Kismayo, and the 30th Brigade, headquartered in El Wak and focused on the Gedo region. The division also has a demining unit attached independently. 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 conducted an operation against al-Shabaab near the village of Jamame, killing 10 militants and arresting 6 others. In December 2024, the division commander and 11th Brigade relieved Division 2 at

Kamboni Kamboni (; ) is a town in the Badhaadhe district of Lower Juba region, Somalia, which lies on a peninsula near the border with Kenya. It is the southernmost town in Somalia. The tip of that peninsula is called Ras Kamboni (Cape Kamboni). The to ...

. The division was commanded by General Aaden Kaalmooy until 2022. The division is now commanded by General Ali Mohamed Mohamud, nicknamed "Bogmadow".

Corruption and political issues

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

Ahmed Madobe Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaam (Somali language, Somali: Sheekh Axmed Maxamed Islaam, Arabic: شيخ أحمد محمد إسلام) better known as Ahmed Madobe, is a Somali politician and a former militant who is the current president of the Jubala ...

, 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 documents provided to the

United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...

had been reporting a consistent 3,034 personnel since 2013. This money had not been accounted for. 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 () is a Somali author, professor, and politician. He was the former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Federal Government of Somalia. Currently he is a Senator of the Somali Parliament. He belongs to the Ahmed Fa ...

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