Ex-Somali Defense Minister Defies Handover Amid Rising Al-Shabaab Threat

Mogadishu – Garowe Online

The former Minister of Defense of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, has reportedly refused to hand over his position to the newly appointed minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, who was named to the post on March 17.

Sources close to the matter told Garowe Online that Minister Jibril is still awaiting a formal handover, but it appears that the former minister is unwilling to facilitate the transition. So far, no official reason has been given for the delay, although insiders indicate that the Prime Minister has yet to respond to a formal complaint lodged by the incoming minister.

Reliable reports further suggest that the government of Turkey—Somalia’s closest military partner—is not in favor of Abdikadir Mohamed Nur’s removal. Turkey is one of the main contributors to Somalia’s security sector, providing military training, equipment, and support to elite units.

Recently, the former defense minister posted a photo on his Facebook page showing him alongside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a move widely interpreted as a political message underscoring his close ties with Ankara.

The federal government continues to grapple with escalating attacks by the militant group Al-Shabaab in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, heightening its reliance on Turkish support.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told Garowe Online that several foreign partners with security ties to Somalia have reportedly pressured Villa Somalia to replace the former defense minister in order to strengthen security cooperation.

Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, who previously served as Somalia’s Consul in Turkey, is believed to have strong ties with Turkish intelligence agencies. This has raised concerns among other international partners involved in Somalia’s security sector, who fear that critical intelligence may become overly reliant on one foreign entity.

Garowe Online will continue to monitor developments surrounding this unfolding dispute within Somalia’s Ministry of Defense.