# Commanders of the Somali army since 1960 (Taliyaha Ciidanka Xoogga) > Every commander of the Somali armed forces since 1960, with their dates: the Republic, the military government, the transitional government and the federal government. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/somali-army-commanders/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short The commander of the armed forces is the professional head of the [Somali National Army](/en/institutions/somali-national-army/) and, in principle, of the [air force](/en/institutions/somali-air-force/) and [navy](/en/institutions/somali-navy/). The president appoints the commander, and every holder so far has come from the army ([Wikipedia, Chief of Defence Force (Somalia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Defence_Force_(Somalia))). This page lists them with their dates. ## The Republic and the military government, 1960–1991 Title: commander-in-chief of the armed forces. | Commander | Rank | From | To | |---|---|---|---| | [Daud Abdulle Hirsi](/en/people/daud-abdulle-hirsi/) | Major general | 12 April 1960 | 1965 (died in office) | | [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) | Major general | 1965 | 1969 | | [Mohamed Ali Samatar](/en/people/mohamed-ali-samatar/) | Lieutenant general | 1969 | 1990 | | [Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan](/en/people/mohamed-said-hersi-morgan/) | Major general | 25 November 1990 | 20 January 1991 | (Wikipedia, citing Harold Nelson's Library of Congress country study, *Somalia: a country study*, 1982, and other sources.) Siad Barre took power as army commander in October 1969; see [The Siad Barre era](/en/history/siad-barre-era-1969-1991/). The national army broke up with the fall of his government in January 1991. ## The transitional government, 2005–2013 Title: chief of army. After 1991 there was no national army until the [Transitional Federal Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) began to build one. | Commander | From | To | |---|---|---| | Ismail Qasim Naji | 15 April 2005 | 10 February 2007 | | Abdullahi Ali Omar | 10 February 2007 | 21 July 2007 | | Salah Hassan Jama | 21 July 2007 | 11 June 2008 | | Said Dheere Mohamed | 11 June 2008 | 14 May 2009 | | Yusuf Osman Dhumal | 15 May 2009 | 6 December 2009 | | Mohamed Gelle Kahiye | 6 December 2009 | 6 September 2010 | | Ahmed Jimale Gedi | 6 September 2010 | 29 March 2011 | | Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini | 29 March 2011 | 13 March 2013 | All held the rank of major general (Wikipedia, citing Al Jazeera, 14 April 2005, [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) Media, [Hiiraan Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) and Reuters, 2009). ## The federal government, 2013–now Title: chief of staff of the armed forces, or commander of the Somali National Army. | Commander | From | To | |---|---|---| | Dahir Adan Elmi | 13 March 2013 | 25 June 2014 | | Abdullahi Anod | 25 June 2014 | 24 September 2015 | | Mohamed Adam Ahmed | 24 September 2015 | 5 April 2017 | | Ahmed Mohamed Jimale | 5 April 2017 | 12 October 2017 | | Abdiweli Jama Hussein Gorod | 12 October 2017 | 16 August 2018 | | Dahir Adan Elmi (second term) | 16 August 2018 | 27 August 2020 | | [Odowaa Yusuf Rageh](/en/people/odowaa-yusuf-rageh/) | 27 August 2020 | 19 June 2023 | | [Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow](/en/people/ibrahim-sheikh-muhyadin-addow/) | 19 June 2023 | 9 November 2024 | | Odowaa Yusuf Rageh (second term) | 9 November 2024 | 29 January 2026 | | Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud | 29 January 2026 | — | (Wikipedia, citing Shabelle Media, VOA, Goobjoog, [SONNA](/en/institutions/state-media/) and others.) **Recent changes.** In November 2024 the cabinet, at an emergency meeting, dismissed Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow and brought back Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, who had led operations against al-Shabaab from 2020 to 2023; the prime minister's office said the aim was to "speed up the defense of the country" ([Mohamed Dhaysane, Anadolu Agency, 11 November 2024](https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/somali-cabinet-fires-army-chief-reappoints-predecessor/3390233)). On 29 January 2026 the cabinet dismissed Odowaa and unanimously endorsed Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, a graduate of a Turkish military academy who had led the army's General Support Command since 2024, according to Information Minister Daud Aweis ([Anadolu Agency via A News, 29 January 2026](https://www.anews.com.tr/africa/2026/01/29/somali-cabinet-dismisses-army-chief-endorses-new-commander/amp)). ## Sources differ - **Odowaa's first term.** Wikipedia's text dates it from 22 August 2019; its table gives 27 August 2020. - **Rank.** The post is usually held by a major general; the commander appointed in 2026 was a brigadier general. - **Titles.** The same post has been called commander-in-chief, chief of army, chief of defence force and commander of the national army. ## Read the primary sources yourself - Anadolu Agency, "Somali cabinet fires army chief, reappoints predecessor" (2024): [article](https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/somali-cabinet-fires-army-chief-reappoints-predecessor/3390233). - Anadolu Agency via A News, "Somali Cabinet dismisses army chief, endorses new commander" (2026): [article](https://www.anews.com.tr/africa/2026/01/29/somali-cabinet-dismisses-army-chief-endorses-new-commander/amp). - Wikipedia, "Chief of Defence Force (Somalia)", with its references: [article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Defence_Force_(Somalia)). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. 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