Chief of Defence Force (Somalia)

The Chief of Defence Force is the professional head of the Somali Armed Forces. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of all branches of the Somali military and thus is the direct superior to both the Chief of the Navy and the Chief of the Air Force. The post has however only been held by Army officers and the term limit is 2 years. Typically the rank held by the Chiefs is major general.
Odawa Raage served from 22 August 2019 to June 2023. He was promoted to major-general in the last days of his tenure, being listed as such in a Somali government briefing of 21 June 2023. He was reappointed on 9 November 2024.