Somalia's spy agency linked to harassment of women in Gedo

Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency [File Photo]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The spy agency; National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] has yet again found itself in unfamiliar territory, following complaints from residents of Gedo in Jubaland, who have raised alarm over Gender-Based Violence allegedly perpetrated by some officers.

For months now, NISA officers have pitched a tent in Dolow within Gedo, they have been silently calling shots on local politics, following a fallout between outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe.

The officers are believed to be part of the team that was trying to wrestle the region's local administration from Jubaland authorities before the recent agreement which was brokered by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and a host of leaders from Jubaland.

According to a number of women from the region, NISA officers allegedly tortured, raped, and even subjected them to arbitrary detentions. Garowe Online could not independently verify these claims, despite corroboration from several local sources.

Some victims who spoke to the media claim they have been coerced, harassed, and sexually assaulted by NISA officials in command of the regional office under the authority of former Deputy Director Kulane, who was recently sacked by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble for blocking senior politicians from campaigning.

"NISA agents stormed my house in the middle of the night and detained me by blindfolded, leaving my kids unattended while I was seven months pregnant. I was taken to the central jail where I was forced to be imprisoned in a dungeon as hefty rain pour," one of the victims said.

Among those accused of engineering violence against women are the commander of Gedo stabilization forces, Bakaal Kooke, and the former governor of the Gedo region, Osman Mo'alimu who was then associate with Bakaal Kooke and Kulane. They are accused of working with junior officers to commit crimes.

NISA under the stewardship of Fahad Yasin has been battling with serious allegations, including working with elite security forces of Gorgor to antagonize critics in the country. He has often denied the allegations, with the government defending the institution as a "professional" outfit.

But for the past one year, the agency has been camping in Gedo, even leading to an outcry from the international community, which warned that the tussle between FGS and Jubaland could resuscitate Al-Shabaab, following differences between Somali security forces and the Kenya Defense Forces.

Authorities in Mogadishu had accused KDF of working closely with Jubaland authorities to "undermine our territorial integrity". Farmaajo has been keen to take full control of the Gedo region, where Ahmed Madobe has also been struggling to stamp his authority due to the Al-Shabaab menace.

In Mogadishu, NISA is also yet to take responsibility for the disappearance of a senior official, Ms. Ikran Tahilil, who is believed to have been kidnapped by her colleagues.

The Attorney General of the Somali Armed Forces, General Abdullahi Bulle Kamay appointed three officers from his office, Police, and Intelligence to investigate the case.

GAROWE ONLINE