Somalia Welcomes a Fresh Police Chief

MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a pivotal moment for Somali leadership, the cabinet has appointed Asad Diyano as the new police chief. This decision closely followed the elevation of Sulub Ahmed Firin to deputy minister overseeing Transport and Aviation, a move believed to shape future relations with Northeastern State.

Offering a nod to the council of ministers, the submission of Diyano’s name came highly recommended by existing police authorities. This endorsement signals a transformative phase for police leadership in a country persistently combating Al-Shabaab insurgents.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre promptly named Major General Sulub Ahmed Firin as the deputy minister of Transport and Aviation shortly after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud promoted him from Brigadier General. Firin’s transition into the ministry marks a crucial shift aimed at addressing both safety regulations and operational challenges within the sector.

General Abdullahi’s past tenure as the Northeastern State Security Force (PSF) Commander from 2007 to 2018 underscores his integral role in maintaining stability in Northeastern State, the region’s oldest state. Drawing from his extensive experience, Firin is anticipated to tackle the myriad issues plaguing Somalia’s transport and aviation sector.

Somalia has set its sights on modernizing its beleaguered transport and aviation industries. With crumbling infrastructure looming large, Firin’s progressive outlook is seen as a beacon of potential improvement.

Contrastingly, Diyano hails from a distinguished Northeastern State lineage historically at odds with Said Abdullahi Deni’s leadership. Rashid Abdi, a well-versed analyst in Horn of Africa politics and security, suggests Diyano’s appointment might strain relations between Garowe and Mogadishu further. “Villa Somalia hopes this move might temper Deni,” says Abdi. “But, it could ignite new frictions,” he speculates.

Adding an unexpected twist, President Said Abdullahi Deni hinted at conciliation with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday. This came a few months after Northeastern State severed connections with Somalia’s federal government, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the cause.

Deni had previously resisted constitutional amendments proposed by Mogadishu due to insufficient public consultation. However, of late, he appears open to dialogue, offering a ray of hope for mending ties with the Somali government.

AXADLETM