By Mohammed Dhaysane
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - The Somali defense minister and army chief resigned Thursday afternoon, the country's information minister said.
Abdirahman Omar Osman told reporters in a news conference in capital Mogadishu that Defense Minister Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed resigned during a Cabinet meeting.
"He resigned today for personal reasons and the Cabinet wishes him a successful future," Osman said.
The Cabinet also appointed Gen. Abdiwali Jama Hussein, as the new Somali National Army Commander after former chief Gen. Ahmed Mohamed Irfid also resigned today, he added.
Local media reported that resignation of the top officials was related to recent attacks on Somali military bases in Gedo, lower Juba region and a raid by the U.S. and Somali government forces in Barrire village, lower Shabelle region.
The attacks claimed by Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab had resulted in dozens of deaths.
Mohamed, a former humanitarian worker and Bay region governor, is the first minister to resign in Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire's cabinet.