Somalia has named Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud as the new leader of the Somali National Army, a move that comes as the country navigates ongoing security threats.
The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed the appointment on Thursday, noting that Ibrahim will take over from General Odowa Yusuf Rage, who was removed earlier this week following a Cabinet meeting in Mogadishu.
"The council of ministers of the Federal Republic of Somalia has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defense to nominate the new commander of the Somali Force, who was named General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud," the Prime Minister’s Office stated on Facebook.
Ibrahim has been part of Somalia’s armed forces for roughly 18 years, beginning his service in 2009. Over the years, he has held key command and planning positions while also taking on administrative responsibilities within the Somali military and regional security institutions.
From 2024 to 2026, he served as Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces Sustainment Command, overseeing logistics and operational support. Before this, he was Chief of Staff for the Eastern Africa Standby Force Planning Element in Nairobi between 2022 and 2024.
His earlier assignments included critical roles at SNA headquarters, such as Joint Chief Cabinet and Adjutant General in the Office of the Commander from 2021 to 2022, and Chief of Finance and Administration from 2019 to 2021.
Ibrahim also served as Deputy Chief of Human Resources and Personnel and worked as a security planning officer in the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Somali Presidency.
Ibrahim’s military training spans both Somalia and Türkiye. He completed infantry, company commander, and battalion commander courses in Somalia before attending staff college at the Turkish Defence University, where he earned a master’s degree in security sciences.
Alongside his military expertise, he holds academic qualifications in governance and international affairs. Ibrahim earned a master’s degree in political science and international relations from Sabahattin Zaim University in Türkiye and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Mogadishu University.
