Somalia’s newly appointed Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, has announced a sweeping review of military promotions, vowing to eliminate the influence of clan-based favoritism in the advancement of officers and soldiers.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony in Mogadishu—where he assumed office from his predecessor in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama—Minister Fiqi stressed the importance of reforming the promotion process within the Somali National Army.
“The government will carry out a comprehensive review of military promotions,” said Fiqi. “Going forward, all promotions will be conducted fairly and transparently by the Ministry, based solely on merit and service, not on clan affiliations.”
He firmly condemned the common practice where members of parliament or ministers pressure the President to promote soldiers based on clan ties rather than qualifications.
“I will put an end to this system where MPs or ministers seek clan-based promotions from the President,” Fiqi declared. “We will make changes, and anyone who becomes an obstacle to the Ministry’s reform efforts will be dealt with.”
A seasoned politician and former Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs, Fiqi also pledged to improve the overall welfare of the military. He committed to ensuring soldiers receive timely access to quality food, fuel, and logistics support across all regions of the country.
His remarks signal a shift toward a more professional and accountable security sector as Somalia continues its efforts to build a credible and unified national army free from political interference.
