Fahad Yasin Criticizes Federal Government for Slow Assistance in Northeastern State’s ISIS Battle
In the evolving political landscape of Somalia, it’s a notable milestone that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has directed his attention towards Northeastern State, a region that has long been both a strategic ally and occasional adversary. Yet, one might ponder: Why has it taken three months for this acknowledgment?
Yasin hints at this very question, urging Northeastern State’s administration to meet the federal government’s overture with open arms and a spirit of collaboration. It’s time for Northeastern State’s President Said Abdullahi Deni to reconsider his stance against federal involvement. Is it not more fruitful to embrace governmental support against the persistent threat posed by Daacish?
Fahad Yasin offers a critical perspective on President Hassan Sheikh’s methods, alluding to a checkered history defined by both influence and controversy. Isn’t it intriguing how one individual’s trajectory can pivot from journalism to the weighty corridors of political strategy? Once a journalist with Al Jazeera, Yasin maneuvered into the heart of Somali politics, becoming a pivotal player as a strategist and campaign manager for ex-President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, often referred to by the moniker “Farmaajo.” With Farmaajo’s triumph in the 2017 elections, Yasin’s sphere of influence expanded, culminating in his appointments as Chief of Staff at Villa Somalia and subsequently as Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
In his tenure at NISA, Yasin found himself at the storm’s eye, accused of twisting agency priorities for political maneuvers, potentially at the expense of national security. Such allegations amplified fractures within political circles, notably souring ties with President Mohamud, who in 2020, charged Yasin with eroding political structures and compromising the integrity of security bodies. Are Yasin’s recent remarks perhaps shadows of unresolved political rivalries?
On February 1, 2025, a significant military intervention unfolded under President Donald Trump’s administration. U.S. Africa Command executed airstrikes that targeted ISIS operatives nestled in the Golis Mountains of Northeastern State. The mission, focused on a senior ISIS attack planner, demonstrated precise intent, claiming multiple terrorist casualties with no reported harm to civilians. Such operations underscore the intricate dance of international cooperation and strategic military might.
Reacting to the airstrikes, President Mohamud lauded the operation, reaffirming the robust partnership between Somalia and the United States in their joint venture against terrorism. Yet, behind the diplomatic niceties, a contentious issue simmers: the scope and sincerity of federal support to Northeastern State. Claims and counterclaims have flown between Capitol Mogadishu and the Northeastern State region, casting shadows on the coordination of anti-terrorist initiatives. Somalia’s Foreign Minister vocally accused Northeastern State of rejecting federal support, insisting, “Northeastern State has rebuffed FGS assistance in the fight against ISIS; we possess incontrovertible evidence.”
In a swift counter, Northeastern State reps dismissed these accusations, criticizing federal interventions as perfunctory gestures devoid of substantial impact. Northeastern State’s Ministry of Information, Mohamud Aideed Dirir, underscored an urgent call for robust military aid—tangible assets like weapons and ammunition—to face ISIS militants entrenched within the rocky expanses of the Bari region.
These jarring exchanges raise an essential query: Can Somalia overcome regional rivalries to forge a unified, effective counterterrorism front? The road ahead demands dialogue, trust, and a shared vision. Somalia stands at a crossroads; only time will reveal the path it chooses.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
