MOGADISHU, Somalia (SMN) – Somali president Hassan Sheikh replaced the long-serving and youngest military chief General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh.
The president appointed Ibrahim Sheikh Muhayadin as new SNA head, succeeding Odowa, who led the military to success against Al-Shabaab and made reform during his 3 year tenure.
The changes include the appointment of Ahmed Aden as the commander of the military, replacing General Mohamed Tahlil Bihi.
The top army brass change comes as the government plans to launch second phase of the military Operations against Al-Shabaab with the support of troops from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti who are Non-ATMIS.
The Somali government has gained ground in its war with the Islamist insurgency Al-Shabaab, mainly in central Somalia during first phase of the offensive launched in August 2022.
Most of the progress is due to Mogadishu’s leveraging of local discontent with Al-Shabaab to form alliances with clan militias.
