Somalia: NISA arrests 10 amid Al-Shabaab Moles' Infiltration of Government

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA], which is responsible for Somalia's intelligence collection, has arrested individuals linked to leaking of information from government agencies, in the latest crackdown within the country's capital, Mogadishu.

In a tweet, the spy agency confirmed arresting 10 suspected spies, just weeks after it was established that the militants still have contacts with individuals in government, including after an attack at the 14th October army training center, which left at least 25 trainees dead.

Preliminary investigations showed that an insider, probably within the military, had revealed and, or given access to the militants in the heavily fortified facility, leading to the blast that killed dozens of young soldiers. The government may have been motivated by the incident to go for spies.

The spy agency now pledges to sanitize government agencies, which have been collaborating with the Al-Shabaab militants, a group determined to overthrow the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, which is after all struggling with instability for the last three decades.

"NISA special agents apprehended 10 spies for Alshabab terrorists within government agencies as part of NISA’s crackdown on conspirers in the government system," read one of the tweets by the agency, responsible for security in the country.

"NISA is committed to rooting out the people working with terrorists who are hiding under the guise of government," the agency further said. "It is our duty to fight against the visible and hidden terrorists. We will protect our nation and people from the terrorists."

In addition, the agency is now pursuing two fugitives who managed to escape the dragnet, publishing their images and names in the process. The two were identified as Abdisatar Abdikadir Isse and Ayanle Mohamed Ali, who work with the government but have been betraying the country.

"If you have any information that can lead to their arrest, please contact security agencies," NISA made the plea on Friday, a week after the attack at the military training base in Mogadishu, the Somalia capital.

Infiltration in government has been a major challenge in the Horn of Africa nation, with a report published by the United Nations team of experts revealing massive collaboration between civilians and government officers with Al-Shabaab in the Port of Mogadishu, where extortion was a huge setback.

The government of Somalia is fighting Al-Shabaab militants on all fronts, with the second phase of operations against the group scheduled for the coming weeks in Jubaland and Southwest. The Al-Shabaab lost significant territories in Galmadug and HirShabelle states during the first phase of operations.

GAROWE ONLINE