By Soohoyde - Reporter
Somalia, 12 August 2026 — A total of 578 students have graduated from the Somali government’s Institute of Security Studies in Mogadishu after completing programmes in security and related disciplines.
The graduates, drawn from the institute’s first, second and third cohorts, were honoured at a joint ceremony following completion of their one-year studies.
The ceremony was attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, National Intelligence and Security Agency Director, the Ministers of Internal Security and Defence, and other senior government officials.
According to the institute, students completed higher diplomas in five areas: Security Studies, Criminology, Security Sector Management, Ideological Security, and Criminal Studies.
Institute Director Mohamed Mooge Abshir said the graduates had shown strong commitment and were now eligible to pursue master’s degrees.
He said the three cohorts graduated together because approval of the institute’s legal framework took time.
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“The reason the students were brought together was that the institute’s legislation went through a lengthy process. We were waiting for the institute’s law to be approved and enacted,” Abshir said.
The institute’s regulations were presented to the Council of Ministers on Oct. 26, 2025.
Graduates included government officials, members of parliament, and security officers. Their participation reflects a growing emphasis on specialised training in Somalia’s security sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mohamud said expertise in security is Somalia’s most pressing need.
“Every day, there is an area where the nation has the greatest need. Today, the area where our people most need knowledge is security,” he said.
The graduation marks a key step in the development of specialised security education in Somalia. The Institute of Security Studies said it plans to expand opportunities for professional and academic training in the sector.