President Mohamud sacks Land Forces chief amid Al-Shabaab reprisal attacks https://t.co/NWX90wQQ5P
— Goobjoog News (@GoobjoogNews) September 19, 2023
Somali National Army Infantry Commander Brigadier General Ahmed Adan Ali has been relieved of his duties only three months after he was appointed to the post.
President Hassan Sheikh announced the changes Monday in a mini shake-up of the military command. Brigadier General Ali was appointed to head the Land Forces in June replacing Brig. Gen. Mohammed Tahlil Bihi.
The president elevated Dayah Abdi Abdulle to the position of Colonel and tapped him to lead the infantry division of the military. The President also appointed Brigadier General Madey Nurey Sheikh as the Deputy Army Commander.
The changes come amid increased al-Shabaab
...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...attacks targeting SNA bases, especially in central regions of the country. The Infantry Division is the largest section of the military carrying the majority of the troops.
The President’s move also comes as the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Transition Mission (ATMIS) hands over additional Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to the Somali National Army ahead of the September 30 deadline.
An additional 3,000 ATMIS troops and 851 Police Officers will be leaving the country at the end off this month in line with the UN Security Council dictates. In June, 3000 soldiers pulled out while a further 3000 will be leaving at the end of the year.
The African Union Peace and Security Council warned this week that al-Shabaab might exploit gaps resulting from the withdrawal and called for an equitable pull-out.