Hargeisa – Somaliland— President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) has initiated his first major reform in the security sector by replacing the heads of the military and police on Thursday.
This action marks a significant shift in the command structure of the Somaliland armed forces. In his Presidential Decree, Irro appointed Major General Niman Yusuf Osman Gahnug to lead the army, while Major General Abdirahman Abdillahi Allaale has been designated as the new Police Commissioner. The former Army and Police Chiefs have been retained as Presidential Advisors on military and police matters.
Additionally, the President has directed the relevant authorities to implement a salary increase for the armed forces, fulfilling a promise made during his campaign.
The newly appointed security leaders face the challenging task of reforming their respective agencies and will commence biometric registration to eradicate ghost soldiers and improve accountability within the armed forces .
This restructuring follows a notable setback for the Somaliland army in Laascaanood, where the SSC-Khatumo seized control of the Sool and Ayn regions and announced an independent administration aiming to unify with Somalia’s Federal Government.
Despite declaring independence from Somalia in 1991 and conducting multiple peaceful elections, Somaliland has yet to gain international recognition.
