(23-06-23) MOGADISHU — Brigadier General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, the former Commander of the Somali National Armed Forces, has broken his silence on the issue of his recent dismissal, in an interview with VOA’s Somali service on Thursday.
Rage, who was replaced by General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin on Monday, described the government’s decision as a standard shift in the administration. He reiterated his lack of regret over the situation, directing any queries about potential impacts on military operations to the current leadership.
Dismissing rumours of a rift between himself and the Defence Minister as a cause for his dismissal, General Odowa affirmed, “The army and the ministry are independent entities, with the latter possessing supervisory and oversight duties.” He denied that his removal was linked to any loss of confidence from the current President of Somalia.
“President Hassan has 100% confidence in the process, and it is not important who appointed us and who is there now. What matters is that we do our duty and perform as well as we can,” Rage stated.
Addressing the progress of operations against the Al-Shabaab group, Rage expressed optimism. He underscored the advancements made by the Somali armed forces in recent times, both in terms of numbers and the quality of the troops. “The number of the army has increased in recent times, carrying a huge responsibility of the country’s security,” he noted.
On the challenges of training the Somali army in various countries, General Rage spoke of achieving a level of unity in training, despite initial difficulties. He said, “Today, the army has reached the stage where the troops will not be trained abroad and will be trained in the country.”
In response to a question about independent military officers in Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle, Rage denied the existence of an army independent of the Somali army’s chain of command. He acknowledged those who took up arms to fight against Al-Shabaab but denied the presence of independent officers separate from the army.
This comes at a critical time, as the war against Al-Shabaab seems to have hit a plateau. There have been no significant direct operations against Al-Shabaab in over a month, and while the federal government has been promising a second phase of warfare, this promise has not yet been actioned.
When asked about his plans post-dismissal, General Rage, “At 37, Brigadier General Rage reminded that he had not left the army and continues to serve the Somali people.
General Rage enlisted in the Somali Army in 2009 under the Transitional Federal Government after completing secondary education. His training in Uganda, Sudan, and Turkey’s War College prepared him for various roles, including VIP Protection, officer training, infantry commanding, foreign languages, and army logistics.
In the footsteps of General Daud, Odowaa Yusuf Rage stands as one of the youngest leaders in the history of the Somali army, bearing testament to a new generation of military leadership even amidst challenges and change.
