Iman Elman (born 1992) is a Somali-

Canadian 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 of ...

military officer. When she was a child, Elman's parents were peace advocates in wartorn

Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...

. 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 Fartuun Abdisalaan Adan ( so, Fartuun Aadan, ar, فارتون آدن) is a Somali social activist. She is the Executive Director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre. Personal life Adan grew up in Somalia. She was married to Elman Ali A ...

would raise their daughters in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. 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 Ilwad Elman ( so, Ilwaad Elman) is a Somali-Canadian social activist. She works at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Mogadishu alongside her mother Fartuun Adan, the NGO's founder. She was voted the African Young Personality (Female) ...

, 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 The Elman Peace and Human Rights Center is a non-governmental organization based in Mogadishu, Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of Som ...

. Iman, who had served in the Canadian reserves 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 A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

. By 2016, she was a captain, commanding a company-sized unit of male soldiers. By 2020, Iman had been promoted to lieutenant colonel, 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