Nimcaan Yusuf Osman

Brigadier General Nimcaan Yusuf Osman (Somali: Nimcaan Yuusuf Cismaan, Arabic: نعمان يوسف عثمان) nicknamed Gahnug (Somali: Gaaxnuug), is a Somaliland military officer serving as the Chief of the General Staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces since January 23, 2025. Appointed by president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), he is the youngest officer to hold this position in Somaliland's history.^[1][2][3]

Nimcaan Yusuf Osman Gaaxnuug
نعمان يوسف عثمان
Personal details
Born	1985 (age 39–40) Hargeisa, Somaliland
Military service
Allegiance	Somaliland
Branch/service	Somaliland National Army
Years of service	2025 – present
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	Chief of staff Commander, Somaliland Defence Command

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by their given name, Nimcaan, and not as Yusuf Osman.

Early life and education

Nimcaan Yusuf Osman was born in 1985 in Hargeisa, Somaliland, where he completed his primary education.^[4] He is from the Arap branch of the Isaaq clan.^[5] He joined the military at a young age. He holds a bachelor’s degree in military science from an Ethiopian institution and a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Kuala Lumpur, specializing in International Security and Military Leadership.^[1][2][3] As of 2025, he is pursuing a PhD in advanced military studies at a university in Taiwan.^[2][3]  

Military career

Osman rose through the ranks of the Somaliland National Army, gaining prominence for his leadership in specialized units. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, he commanded the Gamadiid Special Forces and the Presidential Guard Unit during the tenure of former president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo).^[3] His operational experience includes counterinsurgency efforts and border security operations.^[3]  

Appointment as Chief of Staff

On January 23, 2025, Irro issued a presidential decree appointing Nimcaan as Chief of Staff, succeeding Major General Nuh Ismail Tani, who was reassigned as a presidential advisor.^[6][3] The decision was framed as part of a broader initiative to inject "contemporary military wisdom" into Somaliland's defense strategy.^[3]

Reforms and initiatives

Under Nimcaan's leadership, the Somaliland Armed Forces announced significant reforms, including a 50% annual salary hike for military personnel, effective 2025, as part of a pledged 250% increase over Irro’s term, implementation of the IRIS Biometric Registration System to eliminate payroll fraud and "ghost personnel", as well as plans to upgrade equipment and training programs.^[2][3][6]