MOGADISHU, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo carried out a major reshuffle in the security sector and his office as part of efforts to boost security in the Horn of Africa nation.

The changes saw the president appoint General Dahir Aden Elmi as the new Chief of Defence Forces, replacing major-general Abdiweli Jama Gorod.

In a statement issued in Mogadishu, Farmajo also promoted Leutenant Colonel Odawaa Yusuf Rageh to the rank of general to become the new deputy army chief.

The president also appointed Hassan Nur Ol-u-jog as the Commander of the Somali Navy Forces.

Hussein Ahmed who was promoted to the rank of General and Said Ahmed Kadiye who previously was the Criminal Investigation Department chief were appointed as the deputies of the Somali Police Force Commander.

The president who made the appointments before he left for Djibouti called on all the newly appointed officials to transparently, diligently and professionally carry out their new roles.

The changes come as the Horn of Africa nation backed by African Union peacekeeping mission have intensified operations to flush out militants from key locations under their control.