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Major General Omar Haji Mohamed Cumar Xaji Maxamed | |
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![]() Colonel Masalle in 1973 | |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 1981–1982 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1934 Beledweyne, Somalia |
Died | November 2014 (aged 80) Mogadishu, Somalia |
Nickname | Massale |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | Somali Army |
Years of service | 1961–1991 |
Rank | ![]() |
Commands | Minister of Defence Deputy Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Commander of 2nd Armoured Brigade |
Awards | Gold Medal for Bravery and Service[1] |
Omar Haji Mohamed Masalle Somaali: (Masaalex). born in 1934 in Beledweyne to a Marehan family. He a was a commander of the Somali military in the Hiiraan Region, which is located in Central Somalia.[2] Before he joined the military, he was a language teacher. He also became a Somali Minister of Defence and health minister.
Masale was one of the commanding officers of the 1977 Ogaden War and was ethnically related to the late president Siad Barre (Siyaad Barre). Masale was the second deputy to the joint chiefs of staff and the head of the 2nd armored division (formerly 2nd Brigade)[3]. In 1991 Omar lead the SNF (Somali National Front) which stretched from Gedo to Kismaayo which was captured in 1999.