Somali National Republican Guard (Italian Empire)

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Somali National Republican Guard
Askarta Jamhuuriga Qaranka
GNR - Insignia - ISR - 3145m3d.jpg
The M.V.S.N. emblem
Active 1961 - present
Branch National Republican Guard
Role Defence force
Size 10,000
Part of National Republican Guard
Headquarters Mogadishu
Commanders
Current
commander
Maj. Gen. Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini

The Somali National Republican Guard (Somali: Askarta Jamhuuriga Qaranka, A.J.Q.) is the Somali branch of the G.N.R., tasked with safeguarding internal and external security of the Somali Autonomous Republic. Main challenges to the A.J.Q. include the al-Shabab insurgency, intra-clan feuds and the piracy in Indian Ocean. Within the units there is great cohesion and combativeness; discipline is very strict.

History

The Somali National Republican Guard is the second oldest East African G.N.R. branch, and the fourth Autonomous Republican Guard to be established in the Italian Empire. The modern-day A.J.Q. traces its orgins back to the the Somali M.V.S.N.; before the establishment of the latter, its origins draw back to the volunteer corps of the Askaris, to Italian Colonial M.V.S.N. and to Army units. In 1961, immediately after the establishment of the Somali Gendarmerie, the Colonial M.V.S.N. in Somalia was merged with other P.N.F. Italian and local security services, and the Askarta Jamhuuriga Qaranka was created.
The new armed corps also relied upon some former Army Askaris units, merged in the A.J.Q. in 1962, as well as upon some Italian Army units. The first commander was General Mario Chiaramonti, a former Carabinieri senior officer, who held the command from 1961 until 1965, while the first Somali commander was Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre), who held the command from 1973 to 1977 and later became the first Somali Chief of Republic.
Since late 2000s, the A.J.Q. has been heavily involved in the repression of Islamic insurgent groups affiliated to Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (Arabic: حركة الشباب المجاهدين‎; Ḥarakat ash-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn, Somali: Xarakada Mujaahidiinta Alshabaab); this repression was conducted after the Fatwa declaration of the main Somali Imams and Mullahs against Al-Shabaab. Nowadays, Al-Shabaab are in a declining phase, and the A.J.Q. is becoming a specialized counter-insurgency force.
Nowadays, troops are almost exclusively of Somali ethnicity, while officers are drawn from Italian Somalis and Somalis; the current Commander is Major General Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini (Somali: Cabdulkaadir Sheekh Diini, Arabic:عبد القادر الشيخ ضئنئ‎), who took office in 2013, after the killing in a bomb attack of the previous Commander, Major General Said Dheere Mohamed (Somali: Saciid Dheere Maxamed, Arabic: سعيد محمد دهيري‎).

Organization

The Somali GNR is structured as a complex formation, centred on a complete Manoeuvre Brigade (which carries out the major combatant functions) and some support corps: the 2nd Infantry Regiment deals with border and internal patrols, while the 3rd Sea Corps supports the Somali Police Corps and the Navy in sea border surveillance.

  • 1st Brigade "Waran"
  • 2nd Infantry Regiment "Libaax"
  • 3rd Sea Corps "Duufaanka"

1st Brigade "Waran"

The 1st Brigade "Waran" (Somali for "Spear") is a complete Manoeuvre Brigade tasked with carrying out the major combatant functions of the Somali National Republican Guard. The Brigade is the hearth of the A.J.Q. and is organized and trained with European standards. An unwritten rule states that the Brigade commander is among the favourite candidates for the appointment as Chief of Republic. The Brigade consists of:

  • Brigade Command
  • Brigade Command, Services and Support Battalion "Fashiistanimo"
  • GNR MP Section
  • 1st Infantry Regiment " Geesinimada "
    • Regiment Command Company (3 Platoons)
    • 3 Infantry Battalions (Command Company, 4 Infantry Comanies, 1 Mortar Company)
  • Cavalry Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron and 3 Operational Squadrons) "Hillaac"
  • Tank Squadrons Group (1 Command Squadron and 3 Operational Squadrons) "Onkod"
  • Field Artillery Group (1 Command Battery and 3 Operational Batteries) "Cadho"
  • Engineers-Saboteurs Battalion "Qalcad "
  • Signals Battalion "Dhiirranaan"
  • Manoeuvre Regiment "Masruuf"
    • Command Company
    • Health Battalion
    • Maintenance Battalion
    • Supplies Battalion
    • Demining Company

2nd Infantry Regiment "Libaax"

The 2nd Infantry Regiment "Libaax" (Somali for "Lions") is the line infantry component of the Somali G.N.R. The Regiment is tasked with the execution of long range patrol missions in external border areas; it therefore has a simpler organization than the main tactical complex of the A.J.Q., consisting of:

  • Regiment Command Company
  • 2 Infantry Battalions (Command Company, 4 Infantry Comanies, 1 Mortar Company)
  • Commandos Unit "Danab"

Commandos Unit "Danab"

The Commandos Unit "Danab" (Somali for "Lightning") is an elite unit of the A.J.Q. tasked with the fulfilment of delicate duties. In August 2011, the Ministry of Interior of the Somali Social Republic announced the creation of a new Commando unit. Consisting of projected 550 infantrymen (Command Platoon and 2 Companies) the unit was initially mandated with protecting relief shipments and distribution centres in areas infested by the Al-Shabaab. In February 2014, the Somali Autonomous Government concluded a six-month training course for the first Commandos unit, the "Danab" ("Lightning") Company. The unit is modelled after the Italian Bersaglieri, being capable of special and advanced patrols. Training had been jointly carried out by the National Republican Army and the Italian National Republican Guard, especially by the Forza-D experts. The training of the first platoon had begun in January 2013, and included 50 soldiers. The special training is geared toward both urban and rural environments, and is aimed at preparing the soldiers for guerilla warfare and all other types of modern military operations.

3rd Sea Corps "Duufaanka"

The 3rd Sea Corps "Duufaanka" (Somali for "Hurricane") is the Somalian Coast Guard. Since the emergence of the al-Shabab crisis and of widespread piracy in Indian Ocean, the corps was merged with the Somali National Republican Guard. The Corps is considered being brigade-level and has some naval capabilities:

  • 4 x T Missile boat
  • 7 x Patrol torpedo boat
  • 6 x Inshore Patrol boat

Uniform and insignia

Somali G.N.R. Legionnaires wear their own uniform: light cream jacket and trousers and dark gray cap. The blackshirt and the Fascist Eagle are common among all M.V.S.N. branches. Aside of uniform colours, both the cloths' cuts and rank insignia are the same across the Italian Empire.

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