Defense HQs cuts military divisions to 13 in new reforms

Young officers to take up military leadership positions in new reforms

Somali National Army soldiers during a pass out parade in a past function. Defence minister Abdirahman Mursal said the ministry is instituting reforms in the military for efficiency. Photo: courtesy

The Somalia National Army has been restructured cutting down the number of the military formations from 23 to 13, defense minister Mursal Abdirahman has said.

Speaking to Goobjoog FM, Mursal said the new changes in the military structure was aimed at rejuvenating the force and injecting new blood for efficiency.

“We have made changes in the organizational structure of the Somali army,” said Mursal. “We reduced the number of divisions from 23 to 13.”

The minister added young officers who graduated in the last five years from military academies abroad have now been co-opted into the leadership of the military.

The changes come amid President Mohamed Farmaajo’s relocation to the Defense Headquarters where sources indicate the President was keen on streamlining the military to build a more efficient and professional force. Corruption allegations have severally been leveled against the military with cases of pilferage, salary payments and tendering being put to question.

The National Security Architecture approved by National Security Council last year envisages the formation of a professional military force in preparation for take-over from Amisom.