The government of Somalia has confirmed the appointment of General Mohamed Aden Ahmed as the new Chief of Somali Armed Forces.Announcing the appointment after a meeting by the cabinet in Mogadishu on Thursday, the government described General Ahmed as a suitable choice for the fledgling Somali armed forces which is being reconstituted.
The Somali Armed Forces were completely dismantled I the course of Somalia’s protracted civil strife which began in 1991.
The government said the new army chief has a wealth of experience and formidable background to bring into his new post.
Ahmed graduated from the Military Academy in Egypt, trained in Moscow, Russia and also at the War College and Strategic Studies in the United States.
He had previously served in numerous posts in the armed forces including as Commander of the Parachute Commandos Battalion in Ballidoogle, Division Commander in Belet Weyne, Baidoa and Dhusa Mareeb.
Ahmed heads a Somali army receiving the backing of African Union-United Nations Mission in Somalia in the fight against the militant group al-Shabaab.
The militants have maintained their capability to strike through suicide bombing around Somalia despite losing much of their territory to AMISOM and Somali troops.
The capital Mogadishu suffers sporadic attacks from the militant Islamists who are sworn to depose the current government.
