Mogadishu, Somalia – In a significant development for Somalia’s security sector, the Police Commissioner of HirShabelle State, Hassan Dhi’isow, has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. The promotion comes at a time when HirShabelle faces heightened security challenges, including a surge in Al-Shabaab attacks and instability in key districts.
Brig. Gen. Dhi’isow has been serving as the top law enforcement officer in HirShabelle, one of Somalia’s most volatile federal member states. His elevation reflects the federal government’s confidence in his leadership and experience in dealing with complex security dynamics in the region, particularly in the states of Hiraan and Middle Shabelle, where government forces are engaged in continuous operations against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
Security sources note that under Dhi’isow’s tenure, police operations in HirShabelle have expanded to include joint campaigns with the Somali National Army and local community defense units. These operations aim to reclaim territory and dismantle militant cells that have regained strength following recent setbacks in the region’s stabilization campaign.
The promotion is also seen as a morale boost for the region’s security forces, who have faced increasing threats, including roadside bombings and coordinated insurgent raids. It underscores the government’s broader commitment to strengthening command structures and accelerating the fight against terrorism.
Local leaders and federal security officials welcomed the promotion, describing it as timely and necessary. “Brigadier General Dhi’isow has demonstrated exceptional leadership under pressure,” said one senior official from the Ministry of Internal Security. “This recognition is well deserved and signals a more aggressive push for stability in HirShabelle.”
The promotion comes as Somalia continues its nationwide security reform efforts, including the gradual handover of responsibilities from ATMIS peacekeepers to Somali security forces. HirShabelle remains a focal point in that transition, making experienced leadership like Dhi’isow’s vital for long-term success.