Ismail Qasim Naji

Infobox Military Person


name= Ismail Qasim Naji
lived=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
|caption=
nickname=
allegiance= Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
serviceyears= 2005–present
rank= General
commands=Somali National Army (SNA)
Transitional National Government (TFG) Army Commander Chief of Staff, Army of the Somali Republic
unit=
battles=Somali Civil War
War in Somalia (2006–present)
awards=
laterwork=

General Ismail Qasim Naji ( _so. "Ismaaciil Qaasim Naaji") was the chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and currently the Somali ambassador in Oman. He has served as a senior officer of the Somali army since the administration of Siad Barre, who was removed from power in 1991. Before the formation of the TFG, he also commanded the army of the predecessor Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia between 2002–2004.

Military Service

omali National Army

Transitional National Government

From 2004–2004, Gen. Naji served as the military chief of the Transitional National Government (TNG).cite web
title=The Lives of 18 American Soldiers Are Not Better Than Thousands of Somali Lives They Killed, Somalia's TNG Prime Minister Col. Hassan Abshir Farah says
url=http://www.somaliawatch.org/archivedec01/020122101.htm
date=2002-01-22
accessdate=2007-01-17
publisher=Somalia Watch ] cite web
title=Somalia: Warlords lay down weapons
url=http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/6756
publisher=SomaliNet
date=2007-01-17
accessdate=2007-01-17 ] During this time, the TNG was opposed militarily and politically by the rival Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), backed by Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid (son of the late warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid), Mohamed Dhere, and others. Eventually the leadership of the SRRC and the TNG reconciled.

Transitional Federal Government

In November 2004, the TNG was succeeded by the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). On April 15, 2005, Gen. Naji was appointed Chief army commander of the TFG.cite news
title=Somali cabinet fills key posts
url=http://english.aljazeera.net/News/archive/archive?ArchiveId=11289
date=2005-04-15
publisher=Al-Jazeera
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

In October 2005, a report by the UN Monitoring group quoted Gen. Naji as having accepted a large shipment of goods from Yemen in contravention of UN sanctions on arms imports, including 5,000 weapons, hand grenades and antipersonnel mines.cite web
title=LM Report 2006: Yemen
url=http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/yemen.html
publisher=Landmine Monitor
date=2006-09-12
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

In November 2006, Gen. Naji acknowledged the defection of TFG militia to the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).cite news
title= Somali women demonstrate to support state
url=http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/251/050.shtml
date=2006-11-10
publisher=Sapa-AP
accessdate=2007-01-17 ]

On January 17, 2007, Gen. Naji reported what was believed to be Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's briefcase, filled with documents, was recovered by government forces from a jungle hideout in southwestern Somaliacite news
title=Islamist Fighters Captured Fleeing Somalia
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/world/africa/17cnd-somalia.html?hp&ex=1169096400&en=eb0a6ddb7b214c37&ei=5094&partner=homepage
date=2007-01-17
publisher=New York Times
accessdate=2007-01-17 ] as conflicting reports emerged the ICU leader had been arrested near the Dadaab refugee camp in the Garissa district of Kenya.cite news
title=Top Islamist commander arrested
url=http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143963732
date=2007-01-17
accessdate=2007-01-17
publisher=East African Standard ]

On February 10, 2007, he was replaced as army chief-of-staff by Abdulahi Ali Omar.cite news
title=Somalia’s army commander sacked as new ambassadors are appointed
url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2279.htm
date=2007-02-10
publisher=Shabelle Media Network
accessdate=2007-02-10]

ubsequent career

The same day he was dismissed as army chief-of-staff (February 10, 2007), Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi appointed Ismael Qasim Naji to the position of Ambassador to Oman.cite news
title=Somalia’s army commander sacked as new ambassadors are appointed
url=http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2279.htm
date=2007-02-10
publisher=Shabelle Media Network
accessdate=2007-02-10]

References