MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has appointed Abdi Said M Ali as his new national security adviser on Friday, 22nd December, Garowe Online reports.

United Nations special envoy for Somalia Micheal Keating has announced the appointment of the new adviser for President Farmajo on Friday through a statement posted on his official Twitter account.

"Congratulations Abdi Said on your appointment as Somali President's National Security Advisor. It's a critical job at a critical time. UN and Int'l community look forward to working with you," Keating tweeted.

The office of the President did not release any statement confirming Ali's appointment. 

Ali has worked with previous Somali Transitional Federal Government as he served as a technical adviser to late President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed 2004-2005.

The new adviser also became a security adviser for the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa for the past two years. He becomes the third security advisor since Farmajo took the oath of office in February 2017.

GAROWE ONLINE