The Somali National Army Chief General Odawaa Yusuf Rageh has survived a suicide car bomb attack on Monday.
According to Spokesman of the Ministry of Information, Ismail Mukhtar Omar the commander was on his way from the Ministry of Defense headquarters when an unidentified car tried to join his convoy ignoring the warning by the security team.
“A suicide bomber with car tried to breach the convoy of Somali Army Chief General Odawaa Yusuf Rageh near Tarabunka junction and after ignoring several warnings by the security escort the car was shot and as result exploded.” Mukhtar confirmed, adding “The commander of the armed forces is safe and sound.”
General Odowa was appointed by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo as new army chief in August last year during a reshuffle.
The young General who underwent specialized training in Turkey and Uganda was the infantry commander before taking the helm of the Somali military.
The troops have recaptured key strategic areas in the Lower Shabelle region from the armed group al Shabaab during his ten months in office.
