Somalia’s Federal cabinet on Thursday sacked the head of the army forces, General Dahir Aden Ilmi after less than three years in office.
The sacking of the army chief came after a high-level ministerial meeting was held in Mogadishu chaired by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid.
‘’The Minister of Defense Abdulkhadir Diini presented to the Cabinet Meeting a proposal to appoint a new Chief of Somali Armed Forces. After in depth deliberation the Cabinet unanimously agreed on the new appointment,’’ read a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
General Dahir Aden Ilmi was appointed as the chief of army in 2013 and has been replaced with General Mohamed Aden Ahmed, who had previously in senior positions within the Somali national army.
Once one of Africa’s largest militaries under former dictator Siad Barre, toppled in 1991, Somalia’s national army was been torn apart by decades of clan rivalries and the absence of any effective government to actually serve.
Somalia faces profound challenges reforming its security sector. Issues include an underdeveloped national command and control system, competing clan-based loyalties, limited equipment and resources, and discipline concerns.
Horseed Media
Somalia cabinet sacks army chief
Published: September 3, 2015
