– Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has removed the commander of the 23rd Military Police Brigade, Aden Jeelle, and appointed Abdullahi Osman Jimcaale as his replacement, according to officials and sources familiar with the matter.
Sources said the dismissal followed Jeelle’s reported refusal to deploy his forces in an operation targeting opposition figures in Mogadishu, although the government has not publicly commented on the reasons for the leadership change.
The sources said Jeelle declined to allow his troops to participate in a raid on the residence of former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
The Military Police Brigade, which receives training, equipment and financial support from the United Arab Emirates, was not involved in the operation and is also absent from security deployments around the homes of opposition leaders near Aden Adde International Airport.
Political analysts say the move is likely to intensify scrutiny of the federal government’s relationship with opposition groups at a time of continuing disputes over elections and security in the capital.
The change comes amid growing debate over the future of government-opposition relations and the potential impact of political tensions on security and stability in Mogadishu.
