Meet Somalia’s Youngest Chief of Staff

When President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo promoted Odowa Yusuf Rageh to Brigadier General in 2019, the 32-year-old officer made history as Somalia’s youngest-ever general. But the promotion that should have been a moment of national pride has instead made General Odowa a target for those who oppose the President’s policies—and a flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing political turmoil.

The opposition, now including Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, along with hostile foreign actors and war profiteers, has questioned both the young general’s age and his capacity to lead the Somali National Army (SNA). Yet a closer examination of his record and military history suggests these criticisms may have more to do with politics than with General Odowa’s competence.

General Odowa is no inexperienced appointee. He joined the Somali army as a teenager in 2007, in the aftermath of the civil war, and has since proven himself repeatedly on the battlefield. His credentials for leading the SNA are unimpeachable—but his rapid rise came at a critical juncture.

The SNA needed to replace aging Soviet-trained officers, many of whom had spent nearly two decades in exile following the army’s 1991 disbandment by then-Prime Minister Umar Arteh Qalib. Those who remained often aligned with clan militias or treated military assets as personal property. A changing of the guard was not just desirable; it was essential. President Farmajo recognized that the younger generation of officers, untainted by the clan-based rivalries and corruption that have plagued Somali institutions, should lead the next iteration of the SNA.

Critics who cite General Odowa’s age as a disqualifying factor ignore military history. This is not the first time Somalia has entrusted command to young officers. At independence in 1960, the average age of officers was just 30. General Daud Abdulle Hirsi himself was only 35 when he became Chief of Staff of the fledgling SNA.

Moreover, the annals of global military history are filled with remarkably young commanders. General Francisco Franco became the youngest general in European history at 33. In the United States, Brigadier General Uriah G. Pennypacker still holds the record for the youngest general officer, promoted at just 20 years old during the American Civil War.

In times of war, age matters far less than character and capability. The qualities that define effective commanders—integrity, courage, loyalty, selflessness, discipline, vigilance, efficiency, decisiveness, and extraordinary adaptability—are not age-dependent. War accelerates the demonstration of these traits, offering opportunities for advancement that peacetime would never allow.

Somalia, embroiled in a protracted conflict against Al-Shabab insurgents and other chaotic militias, needs exactly such leaders. General Odowa has repeatedly demonstrated his courage, leadership, and battlefield versatility—qualities that earned him his promotion and have been validated in the years since.

Not all criticism has been domestic. So-called experts like New Zealand’s Colin Robinson publicly questioned General Odowa’s promotion based on his age. Yet Robinson’s critiques, despite his claimed military expertise, have consistently disparaged the SNA’s capabilities while seemingly supporting organizations with vested interests in Somalia’s instability, such as Sahan Research and the Crisis Group.

Such hostile commentary, which undermines the professionalism of the Somali army, convinces only those who share the same animosity toward Somali sovereignty—including foreign-funded opposition politicians. Somali courts have taken notice of these efforts to sabotage national institutions, sentencing Robinson to five years in prison for his actions.

Since his 2019 promotion, General Odowa has displayed far greater maturity than Prime Minister Roble and the entire opposition leadership combined. He has personally led numerous campaigns against Al-Shabab, demonstrating both tactical acumen and unwavering commitment.

With more resources, less political polarization, and without the current UN sanctions and counterproductive foreign oversight, General Odowa would be even better equipped to address the insecurity plaguing parts of Somalia. His promotion represents not just the audacity of hope, but the necessity of investing in a new generation of Somali leadership—one that has earned its place through service and sacrifice.