When General Dahir Aden handed over to General Yusuf Rageh on Wednesday, the latter became the youngest Army Commander in the history of Somalia National Army.
His appointment makes him the youngest ever commander in the military at just 32, having been born in 1987.
General Aden, who is Turkey trained, handed over instruments of power after overseeing liberation of several towns across Somalia from Al-Shabaab militants.
"New army chief General Odawaa Yusuf Rageh (right) takes over the reigns from his predecessor General Dahir Aden Elmi “Indhoqarsho”. Mogadishu, August 27, 2019," said Harun Maruf.
Before raising through ranks, General Yusuf Rageh worked closely with Kenya Defense Forces before being recruited as head of presidential guards.
When Siad Barre regime fell, he was just 3 years old. He was born in in Aadan Yabaal District in Middle shabelle region.
Between 2002-2005 he attended his secondary education in Mogadishu after which he joined the army in 2007.
He attended military training in Uganda for one year where he underwent studies in VIP protection.
He later became and instructor to new recruits sent to Uganda.In 2009, he went to Sudan for further training .
A year later he retuned home as a one-star general and attended a 45 day seminar at Haama dhowr school in Mogadishu.
He later became the deputy leader of the Villa Somalia Protection Unit later rising to be the leader of the unit. This close proximity to the presidency must have endeared him to the center of power