Iman Elman (born 1992) is a

Somali Somali may refer to: Horn of Africa * Somalis, an inhabitant or ethnicity associated with Greater Somali Region ** Proto-Somali, the ancestors of modern Somalis ** Somali culture ** Somali cuisine ** Somali language, a Cushitic language ** Soma ...

- Canadian military officer. 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 Elman Ali Ahmed ( so, Cilmi Cali Axmed, ar, علم علي أحمد) was a Somali entrepreneur and social activist. Personal life Ahmed was based in Mogadishu Ahmed was married to Fartuun Adan, with whom he had four daughters. Due to having re ...

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. Iman's elder sisters, Almaas Elman and Ilwad Elman, also returned to Somalia, followed by Iman herself. Almaas became a Somali diplomat, while Ilwad joined her mother at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center. Iman, who had served in the

Canadian reserves Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source o ...

prior to her return to Somali, joined the Somali military.

Military career

Iman joined the Somali military in 2011. She faced the assumption that her role in the military would be a support role, not active military duties, like going on military patrols. However she succeeded in working with male soldiers. By 2013, she had been promoted to lieutenant. By 2016, she was a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, commanding a company-sized unit of male soldiers. By 2020, Iman had been promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, and was serving as a staff officer with planning responsibilities. Iman has survived being near the explosion of three roadside bombs. 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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iman Elman Somalian women 1992 births Living people Somalian military leaders People from Mogadishu