By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Somalia, 29 January 2026 Somalia’s cabinet on Thursday approved the appointment of Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud as the new Chief of the Somali National Armed Forces, following a proposal from the Ministry of Defence.
“The appointment comes at a time when the Armed Forces are undergoing a comprehensive restructuring and have achieved significant successes in operations against the Khawarij groups,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The government said the leadership change is part of efforts to accelerate counter-terrorism operations and strengthen the capabilities of the military.
Brig. Gen. Mohamud succeeds Major General Odawa Yusuf Rage, who twice led the Somali National Armed Forces and played a key role in overseeing liberation operations.
The new commander is expected to advance the fight against Al-Shabaab, reinforce leadership and command structures, and improve the readiness, capability, and professionalism of the Somali National Armed Forces to ensure lasting security and stability in the country.
Brig. Gen. Mohamud is a highly experienced military officer who has held senior positions in administration, planning, logistics, and operations within the Somali Armed Forces, as well as in joint operations with international partners. He most recently served as the commander of the Somali National Armed Forces Sustainment Command, where he oversaw logistics operations, personnel management, coordination with international partners, risk assessment, and unit readiness.
From 2022 to 2024, he served as Chief of Staff of the Eastern Africa Standby Forces Planning Element in Nairobi, Kenya, responsible for directing and supervising the military component and developing force structure concepts for regional missions.
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Between 2021 and 2022, he was Joint Chief Cabinet and Adjutant General in the Office of the Commander, managing personnel actions, correspondence, office coordination, and foreign relations. From 2019 to 2021, he led the Finance and Administration Department at the Somali National Armed Forces headquarters, overseeing budgeting, financial management, and accountability policies.
Earlier, he served as Deputy Chief of HR and Personnel, Security Planning and Coordination Officer at the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Somali Presidency, Cadet Battalion Commander, Acting Commander of the Military Academy, Company Commander, and held other operational and training roles across the Somali military.
Brig. Gen. Mohamud holds a Master of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Sabahattin Zaim University in Turkey and a Military Master in Security Sciences from the Turkish Defence University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Mogadishu University and has completed extensive military education and training, including Company Commander and Battalion Commander courses, Staff College, Integrated Mission Planning, Senior Mission Leadership courses, and exercises across Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya.
He is fluent in English, Somali, and Turkish, and has a good command of Arabic.
The Somali government said the appointment aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at professionalizing the armed forces and consolidating recent battlefield gains.
