HARGEISA, Somaliland (HornPost) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Irro” appointed new commanders for the Somaliland National Army and Police Force on Jan. 23, 2025, in a major reshuffle of the country’s security leadership.
Under a presidential decree issued Thursday, Brigadier General Niman Yusuf Osman Gahanuug was appointed commander of the Somaliland National Army, while Brigadier General Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan Allale, widely known as Abdi Dheere, was appointed commander of the Somaliland Police Force.
The decree, identified by the presidency as JSL/XM/WM/222-0047/012025, cited Article 90 of the Somaliland Constitution and the importance of the national security forces in defending the country, maintaining internal security, protecting lives and property, safeguarding basic freedoms and enforcing the constitution and laws.
New Somaliland Army Commander Appointed
Brig. Gen. Niman Yusuf Osman Gahanuug becomes the new commander of the Somaliland National Army and, according to the information accompanying the appointment, is the youngest officer to hold the position.
Gahanuug is a former officer in the Somaliland military and is now expected to take responsibility for one of the country’s most important security institutions.
One of the immediate priorities identified for the new commander is the registration of Somaliland’s armed forces.
The registration process is expected to be completed within one month and will use biometric identification, according to the information accompanying the presidential decision.
The initiative is linked to President Irro’s commitment to register members of the armed forces and establish a clearer system for personnel management, including measures intended to support salary increases.
Abdi Dheere Named Police Commander
President Irro also appointed Brig. Gen. Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan Allale “Abdi Dheere” as commander of the Somaliland Police Force.
Before his appointment, Abdi Dheere served as a spokesman for the Somaliland National Army and had previously served as a military officer.
His appointment transfers him from a public communications role within the military to the leadership of the police institution, placing him in charge of Somaliland’s internal law-enforcement and public-security forces.
The reshuffle comes as the Irro administration seeks to reorganize key security institutions and strengthen their administrative and operational structures.
Two Presidential Advisers Appointed
The presidential decree also appointed two senior security officials as advisers to the president.
Sergeant Major Nuh Ismail Tani, who previously served as commander of the Somaliland National Army for an extended period, was appointed Presidential Adviser on National Army Affairs.
Meanwhile, Major General Mohamed Adan Saqadhi, the former commander of the Somaliland Police Force, was appointed Presidential Adviser on Police Affairs.
Saqadhi had served as police commander for about seven years after being appointed to the position by former President Muse Bihi Abdi.
The appointments allow the new administration to change the leadership of the security institutions while retaining the experience of senior former commanders in advisory roles.
Military Registration at Center of Reform Agenda
The planned biometric registration of Somaliland’s armed forces is potentially one of the most significant elements of the reshuffle.
A formal personnel registration system could provide the government with a clearer picture of the size and structure of the armed forces, improve personnel records and help establish more transparent systems for salaries and benefits.
The move could also strengthen administrative control over the security sector by creating a more systematic record of serving personnel.
The issue has political significance as well. The information accompanying the presidential decree describes the registration initiative as part of President Irro’s broader effort to reform the Somaliland military.
According to the source material, previous administrations had not undertaken a comprehensive registration of the armed forces, making the proposed biometric system a potentially important institutional change.
Why the Reshuffle Matters
The appointments come at an important point for Somaliland’s security institutions.
The president has placed new leadership at the head of both the military and police while retaining the outgoing commanders as presidential advisers. That approach could provide continuity while allowing the administration to pursue changes in personnel management and institutional organization.
For the military, biometric registration could become a foundation for reforms involving payroll management, personnel accountability and force planning.
For the police, the appointment of Abdi Dheere represents a change in leadership at an institution responsible for maintaining domestic security and public order.
The effectiveness of the changes will ultimately depend on how quickly the administration implements the promised registration system and whether the reforms improve transparency, institutional capacity and operational effectiveness.
Full Presidential Appointments
The Jan. 23 presidential decree made four key appointments:
- Brig. Gen. Niman Yusuf Osman Gahanuug — Commander of the Somaliland National Army.
- Brig. Gen. Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan Allale “Abdi Dheere” — Commander of the Somaliland Police Force.
- Sergeant Major Nuh Ismail Tani — Presidential Adviser on National Army Affairs.
- Maj. Gen. Mohamed Adan Saqadhi — Presidential Adviser on Police Affairs.
The appointments were made under the authority of the Somaliland presidency following consultations cited in the decree.
HornPost Staff Reporter
Hargeisa, Somaliland
