Ismail Qasim Naji
Encyclopedia
General
Ismail Qasim Naji was the chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) of Somalia
and currently the Somali ambassador in Oman. He has served as a senior officer of the Somali army since the administration of Siad Barre
, who was removed from power in 1991. Before the formation of the TFG, he also commanded the army of the predecessor Transitional National Government
(TNG) of Somalia between 2002–2004.
(TNG). During this time, the TNG was opposed militarily and politically by the rival Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
(SRRC), backed by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid (son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid
), Mohamed Dhere, and others. Eventually the leadership of the SRRC and the TNG reconciled.
(TFG). On April 15, 2005, Gen. Naji was appointed Chief army commander of the TFG.
In October 2005, a report by the UN Monitoring group quoted Gen. Naji as having accepted a large shipment of goods from Yemen
in contravention of UN sanctions on arms imports, including 5,000 weapons, hand grenades and antipersonnel mines.
In November 2006, Gen. Naji acknowledged the defection of TFG militia to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
On January 17, 2007, Gen. Naji reported what was believed to be Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's briefcase, filled with documents, was recovered by government forces from a jungle hideout in southwestern Somalia as conflicting reports emerged the ICU leader had been arrested near the Dadaab refugee camp in the Garissa
district of Kenya
.
On February 10, 2007, he was replaced as army chief-of-staff by Abdulahi Ali Omar.
to Oman
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Ismail Qasim Naji was the chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
(TFG) of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and currently the Somali ambassador in Oman. He has served as a senior officer of the Somali army since the administration of Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
, who was removed from power in 1991. Before the formation of the TFG, he also commanded the army of the predecessor Transitional National Government
Transitional National Government
The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
(TNG) of Somalia between 2002–2004.
Transitional National Government
From 2004–2004, Gen. Naji served as the military chief of the Transitional National GovernmentTransitional National Government
The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
(TNG). During this time, the TNG was opposed militarily and politically by the rival Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council
The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council was a political movement, as well as an armed militia, founded by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid...
(SRRC), backed by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid (son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
General Mohamed Ali Farrah Aidid was a controversial Somali military leader, often described as a warlord. A former general and diplomat, he was the chairman of the United Somali Congress and later led the Somali National Alliance...
), Mohamed Dhere, and others. Eventually the leadership of the SRRC and the TNG reconciled.
Transitional Federal Government
In November 2004, the TNG was succeeded by the establishment of the Transitional Federal GovernmentTransitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
(TFG). On April 15, 2005, Gen. Naji was appointed Chief army commander of the TFG.
In October 2005, a report by the UN Monitoring group quoted Gen. Naji as having accepted a large shipment of goods from Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
in contravention of UN sanctions on arms imports, including 5,000 weapons, hand grenades and antipersonnel mines.
In November 2006, Gen. Naji acknowledged the defection of TFG militia to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
On January 17, 2007, Gen. Naji reported what was believed to be Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's briefcase, filled with documents, was recovered by government forces from a jungle hideout in southwestern Somalia as conflicting reports emerged the ICU leader had been arrested near the Dadaab refugee camp in the Garissa
Garissa
Garissa is a city in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. It is the capital of both the province and Garissa District.-Overview:Garissa is located at and has a population of 65,881 inhabitants . The Tana River flows through the city....
district of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
On February 10, 2007, he was replaced as army chief-of-staff by Abdulahi Ali Omar.
Subsequent career
The same day he was dismissed as army chief-of-staff (February 10, 2007), Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi appointed Ismael Qasim Naji to the position of AmbassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
.