Somalia's new Intelligence chief to take over the office amid security alert

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Abdullahi Mohamed alias Sanbalolshe is set to assume roles as the Director National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on Tuesday, at the time Somalia is confronting security challenges including the al-Shabaab menace in the country.

Sanbalolshe, served in the same capacity a few years ago before he was appointed minister and later envoy. His return was first revealed by Garowe Online in early March before the formal appointment was made this month.

On Monday, Sanbalolshe returned to NISA headquarters where he was ushered in by Mahad Salad, who is leaving the intelligence team for politics. He is projected to run for Galmudug presidency in the coming months, sources say.

"In preparation for his official role as the chief of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, Abdullahi Mohamed (Sanbalolshe) visited the agency’s base in Mogadishu," state media reported on Monday just after the meeting.

"The outgoing NISA boss, Mahad Salad, welcomed him. The formal handover is set for this Tuesday," the statement further revealed, paving the way for changes in Somalia’s most sensitive office, which coordinates security and intelligence gathering.

He returns to his former seat just moments after the US embassy in Nairobi warned of imminent attacks in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. The US noted that the al-Shabaab militants are plotting to attack several locations in the capital.

On Monday, Somalia also reported an airstrike in central regions which left over 50 militants dead, but the US Africa Command, which coordinates such attacks, is yet to issue a confirmation. The US Africa Command is fighting alongside the Somali National Army and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops.

"Over 50 members of al-Shabaab terrorists, including the notorious leader Ahmed Jiis, were eliminated in a precise airstrike conducted by the National Armed Forces, with backing from international security partners. The successful operation was aimed at a militant convergence located in Baraagta-Gurguurte, in proximity to the Harardhere district of the Mudug region."

NISA plays a pivotal role in tracking and arresting criminals attached to the al-Shabaab, before pressing charges against them. In most cases, the officers attached to the department also participate in ground operations against the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE