Iman Elman

Iman Elman (born 1992) is a Somali-Canadian military officer.[1] When she was a child, Elman's parents were peace advocates in wartorn Somalia. When the dangers of working in Somalia increased her parents agreed that her father, Elman Ali Ahmed would stay in Somalia, and continue to work for Peace, while her mother, Fartuun Adan would raise their daughters in Canada. When her daughters reached adult-hood Fartuun returned to Somalia, to renew her work for Peace.[2] Iman's elder sisters, Almaas Elman and Ilwad Elman, also returned to Somalia, followed by Iman herself.

Iman Elman
Born1992 (age 30–31)
Mogadishu, Somalia
NationalitySomali-Canada
Occupationmilitary officer

Almaas became a Somali diplomat, while Ilwad joined her mother at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center.[1] Iman, who had served in the Canadian reserves prior to her return to Somali, joined the Somali military.[3]

Military career

Iman joined the Somali military in 2011.[3][4] She faced the assumption that her role in the military would be a support role, not active military duties, like going on military patrols.[1] However she succeeded in working with male soldiers. By 2013, she had been promoted to lieutenant. By 2016, she was a captain, commanding a company-sized unit of male soldiers.[5]

By 2020, Iman had been promoted to lieutenant colonel, and was serving as a staff officer with planning responsibilities.[1]

Iman has survived being near the explosion of three roadside bombs.[1]

Iman has brought child soldiers, found during military patrols she participated in, back to the Elman Peace Centre, for re-integration into the civilian world.[1]

References
  1. Abdi Latif Dahir (2020-08-14). "Somalia's Army Told Her to Sew a Skirt. Now She's One of Its Top Officers". The New York Times. Nairobi, Kenya. p. A10. Retrieved 2020-08-16. By then, Ms. Adan had received refugee status in Canada and was raising their daughters in Ottawa. Colonel Elman said her mother not only reminded them of their roots but ingrained in them the notion that their gender should not limit their ambitions.
  2. Nima Elbagir; Lillian Leposo. "Rape and injustice: The woman breaking Somalia's wall of silence". CNN. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  3. Michelle Shephard (2013-05-23). "Canadian sisters on front lines of rebuilding Somalia". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2019-11-22. Iman has just come from work and is still dressed in her military fatigues, a black hijab discreetly tucked beneath the lieutenant's cap. She turns heads on Mogadishu's streets: it is rare, if not unheard of, to have a female commander, let alone one who is only 21.
  4. Theodora Aidoo (2019-10-24). "At 26, she is the youngest female captain leading over 90 men to fight against Al-Shabab in Somalia". Face 2 face Africa. Retrieved 2020-08-16. Since joining the army in 2011, Captain Elman has risen to become the most prominent woman in the Somali army, but not without several challenges.
  5. Conor Gaffey (2016-01-28). "Meet the Female Somali Military Captain Fighting Al-Shabab". Newsweek magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-16. The 24-year-old, now a captain and one of the most prominent women in the Somali National Army (SNA), has faced numerous challenges since joining the military in 2011.
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