The new Commander of the Somali National Army, General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, officially assumed the position of Commander of the Somali National Army today, following a handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Mogadishu.
The handover ceremony took place between the outgoing Commander, General Odowaa Yusuf Raage, and the new Commander, General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, in the presence of senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia and international partners.
The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamsa Abdi Barre, officially handed over the positions of the two commanders, stressing the importance of a unified, dynamic military leadership committed to the eradication of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
The Prime Minister said that the new Commander is an officer with extensive experience in the Somali National Army, having held various important positions, which is expected to lead to new momentum in operations against Al-Shabaab.
The handover ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Defense, members of the Council of Ministers, senior military officers, and representatives of the international community.
In terms of security, security at the Ministry of Defense headquarters and access roads was significantly tightened, with large numbers of troops deployed at key locations to ensure the safety of officials attending the event.
On January 29, 2026, the Federal Government of Somalia officially appointed General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud as the new Commander of the Somali National Army, replacing General Odowaa Yusuf Raage.
This appointment is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the leadership of the army and prepare for new phases of the war against Al-Shabaab.
