Somalia: NISA chief Fahad Yasin appoints his deputy days after Kulane's dismissal

Abbas Ya'qub, the new deputy NISA head involved in the recruitment of missing soldiers in Eritrea [Photo: GO]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's spy agency; the National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] has gotten a new deputy director following the unprecedented sacking of Abdullahi Kulane, who has been calling shots in the agency for months now due to deep connections with Villa Somalia.

Multiple sources told Garowe Online that Abas Ya'qub was appointed by NISA boss Fahad Yasin, a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who is keen to defend his seat in October's delayed elections. NISA has been fundamental in carrying Farmaajo's errands.

Kulane, who was linked to a number of controversial issues among them rape and torture in Gedo, was dismissed by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble on Friday. He was accused of blocking a number of politicians from traveling upcountry for campaigns.

Before Kulane's dismissal, PM Roble had warned NISA agents, security forces, and the police against harassing opposition politicians. Their conduct ideally led to the unprecedented delay of the elections following complaints from a number of stakeholders.

Before his Wednesday's appointment as deputy NISA chief, Abbas was one of NISA's top executives in charge of administration, finance, and technology, and is likely to become NISA's acting director when Fahad Yassin exits to run for a parliamentary seat.

Last month, Garowe Online had established that both Fahad Yasin and Abdullahi Kulane had made up their minds to join active politics in the country. The two were initially accused by the opposition of implanting NISA agents in the electoral committees.

Abas appeared in an exclusive Garowe Online report that disclosed top officials involved in the recruitment of missing Somali soldiers. Close to 5,000-7,000 soldiers are currently training in Eritrea and some sources had confirmed that Farmaajo is keen to use them in gripping firm authority in the country.

A UN report tabled in June established that a number of these soldiers crossed over to Tigray in Ethiopia where they helped Ethiopia National Defense Forces and the Eritrea troops in unleashing violence against innocent civilians and the Tigray Defense Forces.

But to date, the government has refused to give accurate reports about their whereabouts and safety, only opting to respond to a few concerns from the media. Parents of these children have been protesting in Mogadishu, calling for actions from the government.

GAROWE ONLINE