MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Council of Ministers has on Thursday appointed Colonel Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud as the new commander of the Somali National Army, replacing Major General Odowaa Yusuf Raage, who has served since November 2024, Arlaadi Media Network reports.
The shake-up comes amid growing debates over the country’s provisional constitution and preparations for next year’s elections, and just a day after Turkish F-16 fighter jets arrived in the capital.
Colonel Mohamud is a Turkish-trained officer with years of frontline experience. Military analysts say his appointment could help modernize Somalia’s army and strengthen cooperation with Ankara, which has increasingly supported Somalia’s security forces with equipment, training, and aerial assets.
For General Raage, the transition marks the end of a turbulent tenure. At just 37, he was one of Somalia’s youngest military chiefs, tasked with leading a force battling persistent al-Shabab attacks while navigating political pressures from a divided parliament.
Raage rose through the ranks over the past decade, known for his hands-on approach with frontline troops and his efforts to professionalize the army.
Colleagues describe him as disciplined and committed, though some observers note that the current political and constitutional tension made a change inevitable.
The arrival of Turkish F-16 jets on Wednesday underscores Ankara’s growing footprint in Somalia. Analysts see this as part of a wider strategy to support Somali forces and counter extremist threats.
Colonel Mohamud’s experience with Turkish military training could make coordination smoother and provide Somalia with access to more advanced tactics and operational planning.
The military leadership change occurs against a backdrop of heightened political uncertainty. Lawmakers and opposition figures have criticized proposed constitutional reforms as opaque, while citizens worry about the pace and inclusivity of preparations for the 2026 elections.
Colonel Mohamud now faces the delicate task of uniting the army, and managing relations with both regional and international partners. Observers say his ability to balance operational discipline with empathy for frontline soldiers will shape Somalia’s security and political trajectory in the coming months.
