Somalia: Farmaajo blamed for 'obstructing' probe into Ikran Tahlil's case

Somalia's outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo failed to cooperate with the PM in the probe [File photo]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] has been accused of destroying evidence in Ikran Tahlil's case, making it logically impossible for the military court to start probe into the mysterious death.

The military court was given the mandate by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble to investigate the murder which almost split the federal government of Somalia, with the PM and the president speaking from different scripts.

Parliamentarian Amina Mohamed said the military prosecutors were blocked from accessing NISA headquarters where they were to look for evidence before kicking off the matter, as the family waits for justice.

Amina Mohamed also said the military prosecutors were denied access to interview people of interest in the case, further making it difficult for the case to kick off. NISA also said it erased some of the footage which could have given a lead to the case.

Ikran Tahlil went missing in June this year and after two months, the agency NISA, where she worked as a cyber security expert, announced her death. Her body is yet to be produced with the government blaming Al-Shabaab militants, who have dismissed the allegations.

While Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble believes in the military court, Farmaajo had preferred a Commission of Inquiry which was opposed by the family. Ikran's mother Qali Mohamud accused Farmaajo of obstructing justice.

It's believed the former spy agency had information about missing Somali soldiers who are training in Eritrea leading to her abduction and subsequent death. The government had denied knowledge of soldiers training in Eritrea before it admitted later on.

So divisive has been her death, leading to a fallout between PM Roble and outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. The two leaders are no longer seeing each other eye to eye mainly after differing on the probe to the death of Ikran Tahlil.

GAROWE ONLINE