CHANGE OF GUARD: Exit Rage, enter Muhiyadin as Al-Shabaab war nears critical stage

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Brigadier General Odowaa Rage who led one of the most consequential wars against the militant group Al-Shabaab has been relieved of his duties and replaced by Brigadier Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin.

The cabinet announced Monday the new changes at the Department of Defence headquarters marking the end of an illustrious career for Brigadier General Rage who was appointed to the post in August 2019.

Like his immediate predecessor, Muhiyadin was previously the head of the elite presidential guard before being picked to head the military. He studied military logistics in Modena, Italy.

Muhiyadin takes charge at the SNA ahead of the planned second phase of the operation against Al-Shabaab. His predecessor started the operation in July 2022 and successfully managed to seize several territories from Al-Shabaab and inflicted major casualties to the group in central Somalia.

The new army chief will now be tasked with the remaining part of the campaign which moves south starting with South West state down to Jubaland. While Rage had the support of clan militias, Muhiyadin may not benefit from that kind of support moving south given the lack of organised militia and the complex configuration of Al-Shabaab especially in the Juba and Shabelle regions.

However, he may benefit from the planned support from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti which signed bilateral agreements with Somalia in January to provide additional troops outside the ATMIS framework.

The removal of General Tahlil Bihi as infantry commander also means the SNA will have to contend with a whole new leadership as a critical time. Brigadier General Ahmed Adan Ali also takes over as land forces commander.