Somalia: Land Forces Commander sacked amid stalled Al-Shabaab war

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In yet another breathtaking shake-up in security forces, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sacked a senior commander in the Somali National Army (SNA), just at the time the country is actively involved in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

The al-Shabaab militants control large swathes of rural central and southern regions, but the recent military operations have significantly dealt them a huge blow, leaving hundreds contemplating joining the government by defecting from the military.

But the efforts to thwart the threats from the group have suffered a huge blow after the army ground forces commander Brigadier General Dayah Abdi Abdulle was dismissed by the president. The ground forces are responsible for the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Abdulle, an accomplished soldier, has been leading various battlefronts across the country until his dismissal. However, in the recent past, the war against al-Shabaab has slowed down due to a lack of pressure from the Somali government and allied partners.

He was replaced by Colonel Khalid Abdullahi Omar, former head of the Jubaland Intelligence and Security Agency (JISA). Dayah held the position for one year and has been working with various regional security forces in pursuit of stability in Somalia.

Frequent changes in army leadership linked to ongoing failures in the fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, observers say. The group has been posing threats to the country's security, often launching small to medium-scale sporadic attacks, targeting government troops and innocent civilians.

The Somali National Army is set to take over security responsibilities from the allied forces, who are set to leave the country by the end of 2024. However, a new mission dubbed the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is set to take over.

Somalia's government has, however, rejected possible participation of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, after the country accused Addis Ababa of plans to annex parts of Somalia. Ethiopia signed a disputed MoU with Somaliland, with Somalia insisting the agreement goes against international laws.

GAROWE ONLINE