General Assad Diayno officially takes over command of Somali police

General Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyano has officially assumed command of the Somali Police Force during a ceremony held at the police headquarters in the capital Mogadishu, attended by a number of prominent officials, including Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.

General Diano took over from Major General Salib Ahmed Farin, who was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation after leading the police for more than a year.

The appointment of General Diano is a politically significant move, as he was a presidential candidate in Puntland’s 2019 and 2024 elections, and remains a prominent figure in local politics, even as he is a critic of President Said Abdullahi Deni’s administration.

His new leadership comes at a time when Somali security forces are in need of a comprehensive modernization. In his first speech after assuming the position, General Diagno called on police personnel to enhance their efforts in maintaining national security and protecting civilians, stressing the importance of adhering to the laws that govern their work.