BOSASO – SOMALIA – A presidential decree by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has created a new Somali military command in the strategic port city of Bosaso.
The new command dubbed the 17th Battalion will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Abdullahi Osman Diayno.
The new unit will directly report to Somali President desk according to sources from the ministry of defense.
The new command is crucial for maintain the security of the mountainous and strategic water way region of Bari region which is hideout for ISIS militants.
It is not immediately clear if the units will also include special forces from navy and airforce recently trained by Turkiye in the defense agreement.
Puntland authorities have strongly opposed the move and presence of federal security agencies in the region.
