Somalia’s intelligence agency arrests man identified as former al-Shabab leader’s son

Somalia arrests alleged son of ex–al-Shabab leader after street-robbery video in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency has arrested a man identified as the son of former al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, accusing him of involvement in street crime and insecurity in the capital, officials said Tuesday.

The suspect, named by authorities as Abdifitaah Ahmed Godane, was detained after security cameras captured him and another man robbing a mobile phone from a young girl in a Mogadishu neighborhood, according to information released by state media. Officials said the footage prompted an investigation that led to his arrest.

Security officials confirmed that Abdifitaah told investigators he is the son of Ahmed Abdi Godane, the late leader of the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2014. During initial questioning, the suspect said he is originally from Hargeisa, in North Western State of Somalia, the semiautonomous region in northern Somalia, officials said.

Authorities said Abdifitaah was first held at the Hodan district police station before being transferred to Godka Jilicow, a high-security detention facility in Mogadishu overseen by intelligence services. Officials said the move followed what they described as a confession during interrogation.

Reports carried by national media said Abdifitaah was arrested while armed with weapons and knives and was engaged in “piracy,” a term commonly used in Somalia to refer to armed robbery and street crime, not maritime piracy. Officials did not immediately provide the suspect’s age.

Security agencies have not disclosed whether formal charges have been filed or outlined the next legal steps in the case. It was not clear when the suspect might appear in court.

The arrest drew attention because of the suspect’s stated lineage. Ahmed Abdi Godane, also known as Abu Zubeyr, was a founding member and longtime leader of al-Shabab, which has waged a violent insurgency against Somalia’s federal government and its allies for more than a decade. Godane was killed in a U.S. airstrike in southern Somalia in September 2014, a strike that the United States said targeted al-Shabab’s top leadership.

A video report aired by state media said Abdifitaah dropped out of school midway through his studies and later became involved in drug use, though authorities did not provide independent evidence to support those claims. Officials also did not say whether investigators believe the suspect’s alleged criminal activity is connected to organized militant networks or was limited to urban street crime.

The case underscores both the persistence of street-level insecurity in Mogadishu and the symbolic resonance of names linked to the country’s long-running conflict. In recent months, security forces have announced periodic sweeps targeting robbery, extortion and gun possession across the capital’s districts, actions officials say are intended to curb spikes in assaults and thefts.

As of Tuesday, authorities had not released details on the second individual seen in the surveillance footage or whether additional arrests were expected. State media said the investigation remains active.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.