Somali Army Commander Calls for Advanced Drone Use at African Security Summit in Rome
The African Land Forces Summit 2026 took place in Rome, bringing together senior military commanders from across Africa and international defense partners, including the United States. Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, commander of the Somali National Army Ground Forces, led Somalia’s delegation. He advocated for increased integration of advanced drone technology to boost effectiveness in ground operations.
The summit highlighted the growing importance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a force multiplier in combating insurgencies and stabilizing volatile regions. Enhanced drone deployment is seen as essential to improve surveillance, reconnaissance, and rapid response on the continent.
The event serves as a pivotal platform to advance joint military capabilities, deepen multinational cooperation, and formulate coordinated tactical approaches to persistent security challenges faced by African nations. Somalia, grappling with longstanding militant threats, stands to benefit from increased access to modern warfare tools.
The US-led summit also reinforces Washington’s strategic commitment to supporting African military modernization, underlining the geopolitical significance of technology-driven defense collaboration in the region.
