Abdullahi Ahmed Irro

Abdullahi Ahmed Irro (; - ), Abdullahi Ahmed Yussuf Irro, was a prominent Somali military professor and a general. He helped establish the National Academy for Strategy.

Early years Irro was born in the southern town of Kismayo, Somalia, to a Majeerteen Harti Darod family. a fascist expedition from 1922 to 1929 under the command of Cesare Maria De Vecchi of the National Fascist Party led by Benito Mussolini. Irro's mother, Zhabah Hosh Ellie, was the daughter of an aristocratic wazir of the Obbio Sultanate. where he was educated in Italian primary and secondary schools. He subsequently studied at the local two-year teacher's training Instituto Universario Della Somalia, graduating with honours. Following the completion of his studies, Irro worked for a few years in the late 1950s as an instructor.

Colonel Abdullahi Ahmed Irro commanded the Somali National Army (SNA) units on the Godey front during the Ogaden War and led the successful capture of the town on July 24, 1977.

In a 2025 interview with Somali Stream, Abdullahi Sheikh Hussein stated that the commanding officer Colonel Irro had given interviews to international media and the Somali perspective following the successful capture of Godey.

Godey was guarded by the Ethiopian Army's 4th Division, which was based in five local military bases. The Ethiopian defenders were effectively annihilated after the battle of Godey, with only 489 out of the 2,350 men managing to return to Harar, the rest were presumed dead. The 60th division forces under Col Irro consisted of 2nd Armoured Brigade equipped with T-54 MBTs, Infantry as well as an Artillery Brigade 36 artillery and Tank Battalion equipped with T-34 MBTs. Under Irro's leadership, Somalia's 60th Division brigades succeeded in defeating the 4th Ethiopian Division in Godey, causing it to collapse and cease to exist altogether as a functional force. Godey's capture also allowed the Somali side to consolidate its hold on the Ogaden, concentrate its forces, and advance further to other regions of Ethiopia. Units from Somalia's 60th occupied Haile Salase's Imperial Palace where they captured senior Ethiopian officers. The Swedish aviator Carl Gustaf von Rosen was also killed during the battle of Godey.

Following this successful operation at Godey, Irro was appointed Chief Commanding Staff Officer in the 60th Division. He was assigned organization and mobilization duties vis-a-vis various army brigades in the Southern Divisions, including six infantry brigades destined for Negele, beyond Godey towards Bali and Sidamo. In spite of unreserved support by Cuba, USSR, Southern Yemen and East Germany, it took nearly three years for the Ethiopian Army to gain a full control of the Godey region. Brigadier-General Demissie Bulto, commander of the First Revolutionary Army, recovered Godey as part of Operation Lash by November 1980, nearly three and half years since the Somali Army occupied it in July 1977.

At the recommendation of the national Ministry of Defense, Irro was awarded the Somali Medal of Valor by President Barre. The medal was issued in recognition of Irro's various contributions to the Military of Somalia. Irro went on to become a general in the Somali National Army. thumb

The 1978 coup attempt

In 1978, fallout from the aborted Ogaden campaign culminated in an attempt by several Somali senior military officials to overthrow Siad Barre's administration. According to the memoir of the late Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, Irro informed him via a secured communication network that the coup d'état had failed. The transmitted communication contained a coded two sentence message reading "Wife Aborted", dated 11:00 am, April 9, 1978. Irro was arrested a few hours later by the ruling government of President Barre under suspicion of participation in the putsch. The coup leader Colonel Mohamed Osman Irro was arrested and executed.

Colonel Abdullahi Irro was arrested and court martialled along with the Chief of the National Police General Abdullahi Matukade

Death According to The Washington Post, General Irro died on January 24, 2022 at his home in Falls Church, Virginia. The cause of death was reported to be kidney failure.