Odowaa Yusuf Rageh

Odowa Yussuf Raage (born 14 April 1987) is a Somali military officer who has served as the Chief of Defence Force of Somalia since November 2024, He previously served in the same position from to August 2020 to June 2023.

Major General Odowa Yussuf Raage
22nd & 24th Chief of Defence Force
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 November 2024
President	Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Preceded by	Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow
In office 27 August 2020 – 19 June 2023
President	Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo (2020–2022) Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (2022–2023)
Preceded by	Dahir Adan Elmi
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow
Personal details
Born	(1987-04-14) 14 April 1987 (age 38) Mahaday, Middle Shabelle, Somalia
Military service
Allegiance	Somalia
Branch/service	Somali National Army
Years of service	2007–present
Rank	Major General
Commands	Chief of Defence Force
Battles/wars	War in Somalia (2006–2009) Somali Civil War (2009–present)

Career

After finishing his secondary school education in 2000, Raage enlisted in the Somali Army under the Transitional Federal Government. Shortly after enlisting Rageh was sent to Uganda for military training specifically VIP Protection. Once he was back in the country, he went on to provide basic training for new recruits.^[1]

In the year 2009, Raage was sent to Sudan for Officer training and came back in 2010 to be promoted as a First lieutenant. Upon commission, he became one of the Officers in charge of Villa Somalia Protection.

In 2013, Raage was sent to Turkey for special training that involved infantry commanding, foreign languages, and logistics of the Army. Shortly after coming back, He was then again sent back to Army War Institute in Turkey in the end of 2014 where he spent the next two years learning and understanding the core principles of leading a modern army. Before he was sent to Turkey, Raage was given the rank of Major.

Upon successfully completing his course at the Turkish Army War College, Raage was appointed as head of 60th Platoon which was part of the Villa Somalia Protection.

August 2018, he was appointed to be the deputy commander of the Somali National Army and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier general, in 2020, he became Commander in Chief of the Somali National Army.

Rageh survived an assassination attempt in July 2020.^[2] By the first quarter of 2023, Raage was promoted to the rank of Major General.

During June 2023, Rageh was replaced as commander in chief of the Somali National Army by Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow. In November 2024, Raage was reinstated as commander in chief of the Somali National Army.^[3][4]

Promotions

Rank with Insignia in English and Somali	Year of Promotion	Notes
Second Lieutenant (Xiddigle)	2007
First Lieutenant (Laba Xiddigle)	2010
Captain (Dhamme)	2012
Major (Gaashaanle)	2014
Lieutenant Colonel (Gaashaanle Dhexe)	2016
Colonel (Gaashaanle Sare)	2018
Brigadier General (Sareeye Guuto)	2020
Major General (Sareeye Gaas)	2023

Chief of Army

On 27 August 2020, Brigadier General Odowa Yussuf Raage was appointed as the Commander in Chief of the Somali National Army^[5]

On 19 June 2023, Odowa Yussuf Raage was replaced by the Somali cabinet and Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow was selected as new Chief of the Somali National Army.^[6]

On 9 November 2024, He was once again appointed as the Commander in Chief of the Somali National Army.