MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has brought General Odowaa Yusuf Rage back to the fore, a youthful officer molded in Turkey. Rage had previously made headlines by cracking down on opposition figures in Mogadishu during the tumultuous 2021-22 elections.
This reappointment unfolds against the backdrop of a political storm swirling around Villa Somalia’s attempts to tweak certain constitutional passages for timing extensions—moves that might derail the ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab. Rage steps into the shoes of Gen Ibrahim Muhyiddin.
His return coincides with a pivotal shift as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) hands over the reins to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), at a time when Ethiopia is embroiled in a brouhaha with Somalia.
Somalia today finds itself transitioning from ATMIS to AUSSOM, with its military poised to shoulder greater security duties by December. However, there’s a tug-of-war over which country should helm the mission, with Somalia rooting for Egypt rather than Ethiopia.
The Federal Government is eager to swap Ethiopian forces for Egyptian ones in AUSSOM, gearing up for a January 2025 kickoff. This follows the defense pact inked with Egypt in August, which saw Cairo sending high-tech armaments to Mogadishu, raising hackles in Addis Ababa.
While these military shifts unfold, Somalia’s political climate remains incendiary, tangled in a tug-of-war between the federal government and various member states over election strategies. President Hassan Sheikh advocates for term renewal via direct elections, an initiative facing stiff opposition.
Jubaland recently voiced dissent against the extension proposal, warning it could ignite needless strife and unrest. Northeastern State was the first to sever ties with Mogadishu, citing insufficient dialogue regarding constitutional amendments and electoral matters.
In the complex fabric of Somalia’s state-building efforts, Al-Shabaab persists as a looming menace, targeting both civilians and security personnel. It’s uncertain if Gen. Rage’s reappointment will shift the tide in the fight against this militant group, which has regrouped and is targeting military outposts anew.
AXADLETM
