Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre reshuffled his cabinet on Sunday, appointing a new defense minister as his government battles an escalating Islamist insurgency.
The reshuffle, announced by a government spokesperson in a video posted on the government’s Facebook page, did not include an official explanation.
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Ahmed, a former foreign minister and national security chief, was named defense minister, replacing Jibril Abdirashid. Barre also appointed Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi as the new second deputy prime minister, and Abdisaalan Abdi Ali Daay as foreign minister.
The changes come as government forces struggle to contain al Shabaab militants, who have made recent territorial gains. Earlier this month, the al Qaeda-linked group briefly seized villages within 50 km (30 miles) of Mogadishu, raising fears of a potential attack on the capital.
Although Somali forces have since retaken those villages, al Shabaab continues to advance in rural areas, amid growing uncertainty over the future of international security support for Somalia.
Al Shabaab has waged an insurgency since 2007, seeking to overthrow the government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Source: Voice of Nigeria