intelligence

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Thursday its forces killed a senior al-Shabab operative who ran the militant group’s financial extortion network in the Banadir region, which includes the capital, Mogadishu. The operative, identified as Ahmed Dhubad Xidig, also known as “Sheikh Aadan Dheere,” was killed in a targeted raid by NISA’s elite Gaashaan special forces in the Daniga Baaloow area of Lower Shabelle on Jan. 27, the agency said in a statement. According to NISA, the operation…

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…

Frank W. Garcia Jr. Nominated to Lead Africa Bureau at State Department Frank W. Garcia Jr., a veteran Republican Congressional aide, has been nominated by President Trump to head the Africa Bureau at the State Department. Garcia, whose nomination for the position of Assistant Secretary for Africa was submitted to the Senate on January 29, is currently serving as a senior advisor to the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation, a process…

Somalia’s NISA says senior al-Shabaab landmine operative killed in Afgooye raid MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said it killed a senior member of the al-Shabaab militant group during a planned operation Wednesday on the outskirts of Afgooye in the Lower Shabelle region. In a statement, NISA said the man was responsible for preparing and planting landmines that targeted security forces and civilians in and around Afgooye, a key district west of the capital. The agency described the raid as…

Ethiopian intelligence chief makes unannounced visit to Somalia amid fallout from Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopia’s intelligence chief, Redwan Hussein, paid an unannounced visit to Mogadishu on Tuesday and held closed-door talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, underscoring the fragile state of regional diplomacy across the Horn of Africa. Hussein met the Somali leader at Villa Somalia and delivered a message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, according to…

Ethiopian intelligence chief makes surprise visit to Mogadishu amid regional tensions MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopia’s intelligence chief arrived in the Somali capital Tuesday on an unannounced visit to deliver a message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, officials said, in a move that underscores rising diplomatic strains across the Horn of Africa. Redwan Hussein, who heads Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, met with Mohamud at the presidential compound, Villa…

Somalia says intelligence raid strikes al-Shabab leadership in Jilib; separate operation reported to kill 13 near Afgooye MOGADISHU — Somalia’s intelligence service said Thursday its forces carried out an overnight operation in Middle Juba targeting senior al-Shabab commanders inside the militant group’s longtime stronghold of Jilib. The National Intelligence and Security Agency, known as NISA, said the mission zeroed in on leadership elements within al-Shabab but did not disclose casualties or the extent of damage.…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Wednesday it killed at least 12 al-Shabaab militants, including a senior figure, during a raid in the Jambaluul area of Afgooye district in the country’s Lower Shabelle region. NISA says the operation struck militant hideouts and bomb-making sites in Jambaluul. The agency reports a senior al-Shabaab leader was among the dead, but did not name the individual. Mortar fire into civilian areas injured civilians and two NISA soldiers,…

Analysis: Turkish Intelligence Flags ‘Unprecedented Fragility’ in Somalia as Ankara’s Stakes Deepen ANKARA, Turkey — A new intelligence academy report in Turkey warns that Somalia faces “unprecedented fragility,” identifying a confluence of security, political and institutional risks that could shape the trajectory of the country’s stability — and the future of Ankara’s most ambitious partnership in Africa. The assessment, titled “A Multidimensional Partnership Model,” acknowledges gains in the Turkey–Somalia relationship…

Jubaland’s intelligence push tests Somalia’s fragile center-periphery balance KISMAYO — When Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe unveiled a gleaming new headquarters for the Jubbaland Intelligence and Security Agency this month, he did more than cut a ribbon. Standing before a bank of monitors and satellite dishes, Madobe declared that his region’s spy service now outperforms the federal government’s National Intelligence and Security Agency. “When it comes to security information in the Horn of Africa, the agency everyone turns…