MOGADISHU, Somalia — August 30, 2026 — At least 231 newly trained Somali soldiers have reportedly been detained in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State after leaving a military camp in Xanan-buure, near Dhuusamareeb in central Somalia, and crossing the border under circumstances that remain unclear, according to preliminary reports.
The soldiers had recently completed or undergone training at a camp in Xanan-buure, an area near Dhuusamareeb, the administrative capital of Somalia’s Galmudug State.
According to reports from the region, the soldiers left the facility before entering Ethiopian territory. It has not been established when they departed, which route they used or whether they crossed the border as one group or in smaller units.
Security forces in Ethiopia’s Somali Region reportedly intercepted the soldiers at three locations. At least 123 were said to have been detained in the Laascaanood area, while 88 were apprehended in Wardheer and another 20 in Caleen.
The three reported figures bring the total number of soldiers in custody to 231.
The soldiers are now reportedly being assembled in Qabridahar, a major city in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State. Authorities have not disclosed whether they will be questioned, held at a security facility or returned to Somalia.
The reports did not clarify whether the soldiers were armed when they entered Ethiopia or whether any weapons or military equipment were confiscated. There were also no reports of fighting or resistance during their detention.
Reason for Departure Remains Unknown
The circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ departure from the Xanan-buure camp remain uncertain.
No official information has been released indicating whether they deserted the facility, left following a dispute, travelled under instructions or crossed the border for another reason. Describing the incident as a confirmed mass desertion would therefore be premature in the absence of statements from the soldiers or the authorities responsible for their training.
The command structure and official unit of the detained personnel have not been publicly identified. It is also unclear which Somali government institution organised their training and what assignments they were expected to receive after leaving the camp.
Somali federal authorities and Galmudug officials had not issued public statements on the reported incident at the time of publication. Authorities in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State have also not officially confirmed the detentions or announced the legal and administrative status of the soldiers.
Security and Border Questions
The reported movement is expected to raise questions about security arrangements at the Xanan-buure training facility and how such a large number of personnel were able to leave the camp.
It may also prompt scrutiny of coordination between Somalia and Ethiopia along their long and frequently porous border. Communities on both sides maintain close social and commercial ties, while movement through remote areas can be difficult for authorities to monitor.
Wardheer and Qabridahar are located inside Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, which shares an extensive border with central and southern Somalia. Ethiopian regional security institutions are responsible for responding to unauthorised armed movements within the region, although the procedures that will apply in this case have not been made public.
No information has been released about whether representatives from Somalia have contacted Ethiopian federal or regional officials to request access to the detained soldiers or arrange their return.
Somalia has trained thousands of personnel at camps across the country as part of efforts to rebuild its security forces and strengthen operations against Al-Shabaab. Newly trained soldiers are typically expected to be formally assigned to units and placed under an established chain of command.
Questions over salaries, deployment, living conditions and integration into recognised security institutions have previously affected sections of Somalia’s armed forces. However, there is currently no verified evidence connecting any of those issues to the reported departure from Xanan-buure.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for Somalia’s security institutions, which face continued pressure to maintain discipline, strengthen accountability and coordinate forces operating under different federal and regional commands.