Sources confirm that the group recently removed Yasir Jiis, the long-serving head of Jabha, from his position and reassigned him to the group’s intelligence branch, Amniyat.

The decision was reportedly made by senior Al-Shabaab leader Mahad Karate, also known as Mahad Abdirahman Warsame, a key figure within the group’s Shura Council.

Jabha fighters are among the most highly trained within Al-Shabaab, frequently deployed in attacks on Somali and African Union military bases, government installations, hotels in Mogadishu, and for cross-border operations into Kenya and Ethiopia.

Yasir Jiis, who hails from Galgaduud in central Somalia, is now believed to be leading a covert unit within Amniyat operating in the Sool and Sanaag regions.

He has reportedly been tasked with strengthening the land and maritime smuggling corridors connecting northern Somalia to the country’s south — critical routes Al-Shabaab uses to transport weapons and supplies from Yemen.

Red Sea route to smuggle arms and foreign fighters

Al-Shabaab has long relied on the Sanaag coastline and Red Sea access to smuggle arms and foreign fighters.

A second route via the central town of Harardheere has become less accessible due to intensified counterterror operations and the advance of Galmudug-based clan militias.

A report by a United Nations Panel of Experts published February this year revealed increased cooperation between Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Despite historical ideological differences — Al-Shabaab being Sunni and the Houthis Shia — the two have reportedly formed a practical alliance rooted in mutual strategic interests.

Al-Shabaab is said to have sought drone training and technology from the Houthis, aiming to deploy drones for targeted suicide attacks.

In exchange, the Houthis have found a market for illicit arms sales to the Somali group, including ammunition and other military equipment.

The militant group is also linked to a resurgence in piracy off Somalia’s coast, where it collaborates with local pirate networks to hijack commercial vessels for ransom.

These operations are believed to have generated millions of dollars in funding for Al-Shabaab.

The UN report further confirmed that the first wave of Al-Shabaab fighters trained in Yemen returned to Somalia between June and September 2024.

While the exact scope of their training is unclear, sources suggest preparations are underway for the group to operationalize drone-based attacks.

Yasir Jiis is widely believed to be overseeing this initiative, enjoying full confidence from Al-Shabaab’s leadership, particularly Mahad Karate.

Another operative involved is Abdisataar Abdiqaadir Isse — a former Al-Shabaab member who defected to Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) before rejoining the group in August 2023 as confirmed by NISA itself.

Abdisataar Abdiqaadir Isse had previously received drone training from Turkish and U.S.-backed operations in southern Somalia. He is now reportedly helping develop Al-Shabaab’s drone program.

Who Is Yasir Jiis?

Yasir Jiis is believed to be in his early 40s and is a cousin of Somalia’s current Director of the national agency NISA, Mahad Mohamed Salad.

Their fathers are brothers.

In October 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Yasir Jiis as a global terrorist and offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture or killing.

His promotion within Al-Shabaab comes at a politically sensitive time, coinciding with the reappointment of his cousin Mahad Salad as NISA chief — a move made by the Federal Government’s Council of Ministers.

Al-Shabaab’s Mahad Karate, also on the U.S. terror list, is reportedly a family relative of Mahad Salad as well.

In 2023, two of Karate’s relatives — a boy and a girl — were released from detention in Mogadishu, reportedly with intervention from Mahad Salad.

The post Al-Shabaab Reshuffles Military Wing Known as Jabha as Group Explores Drone Usage for Attacks appeared first on Kaab TV.

Mahad Salad was initially appointed as NISA chief on 26 May 2022 but was dismissed on 4 April 2024 following numerous allegations of targeted attacks on media institutions, civil society groups, and minority communities, as reported by the media. Sadly no investigation was made into his crimes. He was reappointed on 1 June 2025 and officially assumed office Saturday 14 June.

Targeted Crackdown on SJS and Independent Media

On 10 October 2022, NISA agents raided the offices of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) in Mogadishu after staff had completed their workday. CCTV footage obtained by SJS shows the operation was led by a former Al-Shabaab defector employed by NISA.

On 11 October 2022, SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was abducted at Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport and held incommunicado for 11 days in an underground cell. During his detention, he survived torture and an assassination attempt. On 13 April 2024, Banadir Court froze SJS bank accounts, using leaked private information supplied by Premier Bank, a bank tied to the Somali government. Further,  NISA officers interrupted SJS women journalists’ training in Mogadishu in January 2024.

On 23 February 2023, Mumin was re-arrested by NISA and police officers under orders from Mahad Salad and in coordination with Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala. He endured 33 days of torture and mistreatment in secret facilities until he was released in late March 2023 and forced to leave the country.

Under Salad’s direction, journalists in Mogadishu and beyond were subjected to surveillance, arbitrary arrests, violence, and threats. SJS has documented the following incidents:

• 30 November 2022: Journalists at the People’s House (Federal Parliament) were threatened with death or imprisonment for questioning lawmakers about the Villa Rays hotel attack.
• 18 December 2022: UK-based Channel 4 correspondent Jamal Muhumed Osman, a Somali-British, was unlawfully detained and sent back by NISA agents while he was arriving for journalism assignment.
• 19 December 2022: NISA officers assaulted Arlaadi Media reporter Mohamed Nur Mohamed inside the Parliament premises.
• 24 December 2022: SJS legal officer Abdirahman Hassan Omar and staff members were unlawfully detained at Mogadishu airport by NISA agents under Mahad Salad en route to a journalist training in Hiiraan.
• 24 December 2022: Arlaadi Media editor Aweys Bashir Abdirahman was beaten near KM4 by suspected NISA agents.
• 10 February 2023: SJS legal adviser Abdirahman Hassan Omar was attacked by four armed men in a targeted assault. The attack occured in Bakaro market area controlled by NISA.
• 20 February 2023: Radio Kulmiye journalists Ali Elmi Salad and Sakariye Mohamed Salad were arrested and interrogated by NISA.
• 7 April 2023: NISA officer in-charge of the Mogadishu airport, Mahad Arab Dhiblawe issued public threats against SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin and journalists from Risaala Media following an interview Mr. Mumin gave to the radio in relation to his arrest and kidnapping by NISA in Mogadishu. Days later, the journalist said he was forced to remove an interview with Abdalle Mumin following online attacks from the Somali Ministry of Information.
• In August 2023, SJS’s website and email systems were put offline by a wave DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks traced to IP addresses rented by criminal groups believed to be linked to NISA. The non-profit group Qurium which investigated the attacks and made its analysis indicated that it thwarted “nearly 20,000 IP addresses coming to SJS website with millions of requests” on August 18 and 19. The attack began on the heels of the kidnapping of SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul by NISA in Mogadishu.
• On 17 August 2023, SJS Secretary of Information and Human Rights, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, was kidnapped by NISA and police agents and held for 56 days after exposing police corruption.

Expansion of Abuses Beyond Media: Extortion and Extrajudicial Killings

Journalists and editors have reported to SJS how insiders working as informants within media houses monitored and threatened journalists critical of NISA. This has forced many Somali journalists into self-censorship or exile to avoid persecution.

Between May 2022 and April 2024, a new tactic emerged involving the use of bribes and social media trolls to discredit, harass, and threaten journalists and civil society actors. These troll networks—funded through covert channels by NISA—have systematically targeted government critics, often smearing their reputations or inciting violence against them online.

In some cases, journalists were also threatened by Al-Shabaab operatives after reporting critically on NISA leadership, illustrating the dangerous double-bind facing independent media in Somalia—caught between state repression and extremist threats.

In February 2024, journalists reporting on the murder of UK-trained Somali air traffic controller Abdinasir Muse Dahable—who was found murdered after being tortured—were threatened by NISA officers linked to Mahad Salad. The killing was linked to NISA officers under Salad’s command, one of whom fled to Nairobi. Five men who were also arrested by NISA following the Dahable’s death were reported to have endured torture under NISA.

No independent investigation has been carried out to date; however, local journalists told SJS they were threatened with “death or disappearance” if they spoke about the case.

On 18 March 2024, a Turkish drone strike in Afgoye based on faulty NISA intel killed 23 civilians. Amnesty International investigation found that civilians killed in the strikes included 14 children, five women and four men. Another 17 civilians were injured in the strikes: 11 children, two women and four men. All are from the marginalized Gorgaarte clan. Families seeking justice were threatened by NISA and accused of terrorist affiliations. Mahad Salad aides also threatened reporters on the ground who were investigating the incident.

SJS reiterates that holding Mahad Mohamed Salad accountable would be a critical step toward ending the entrenched culture of impunity—not only for attacks on journalists, but also for the widespread abuses inflicted on Somalia’s most vulnerable communities during his tenure—thereby contributing to lasting peace, stability, and the restoration of the rule of law in the country.

“Instead of holding him accountable, the Somali government has rewarded Mahad Mohamed Salad with his crimes, greenlighting more abuses against journalists and marginalized communities,” said SJS President Mohamed Ibrahim. “We urge the Somali government to immediately review this decision, remove Salad, and prosecute him. His victims deserve justice and protection. He should not be allowed to rule with terror again.”

“We also call on the international community, including press freedom and human rights organizations, to speak out and support accountability efforts—those who suffered under his leadership are still waiting for justice,” Mr. Ibrahim added.

The post Mahad Salad’s Return to NISA Signals a Dark Turn for Press Freedom in Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

His return not only revives painful memories of unlawful detentions, journalist abductions, and extrajudicial killings—it signals that Somalia’s leadership remains willfully blind to the cries of its most vulnerable citizens, undermining what little progress the country has made toward justice, accountability, and peace.

Mr. Salad was first appointed on 26 May 2022 but dismissed on 4 April 2024 following sustained reports of human rights violations, corruption, and gross misuse of intelligence authority.

His tenure was marked by systematic targeting of journalists, civil society groups, minority communities, and the private sector.

Even more troubling are persistent allegations of links to terror networks, including involvement in the disappearance and suspected murder of NISA cybersecurity officer Ikran Tahlil Farah in 2021, who was reportedly handed over to Al-Shabaab operatives.

Despite public outcry and widespread suspicion, the case remains unsolved and has been deliberately silenced by government officials.

From the outset, Salad’s leadership of NISA was defined by fear. On 10 October 2022, NISA agents led by a former Al-Shabaab defector raided the office of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) in Mogadishu.

The next day, SJS Secretary-General Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was abducted by NISA agents at Aden Adde International Airport and held incommunicado in an underground cell, where he survived an assassination attempt. On 23 February 2023, under orders from Salad and in collusion with Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, Mumin was again abducted from a public meeting and held for 33 days in secret facilities, where he endured torture.

These cases were not isolated.

On 18 December 2022, UK-based Channel 4 News correspondent Jamal Muhumed Osman was detained and deported by NISA. On 20 February 2023, Radio Kulmiye reporters covering a public election were detained without charges.

On 17 August 2023, SJS Secretary of Human Rights Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul was kidnapped after reporting on police corruption. He was detained for 56 days and subjected to physical and psychological torture. His tormentor was allegedly Mohamed Kafi Abukar, a known NISA officer and cousin of Mahad Salad.

The broader media landscape also suffered under Salad’s authoritarian rule. NISA embedded informants in newsrooms, prompting widespread self-censorship. Journalists fled Somalia en masse between 2022 and 2024, citing death threats, surveillance, and blackmail by NISA operatives. Those who remained were forced into silence, consolidating state control over public discourse.

Gruesome murder of Abdinasir Muse Dahable

In February 2024, Somalia was rocked by the gruesome murder of Abdinasir Muse Dahable, a UK-trained air traffic controller. Tortured and strangled, his body was found dumped in his apartment.

Investigations implicated NISA officers under Salad’s command. One key suspect, Hassan Dahir, fled to Nairobi, while others allegedly involved in the torture and cover-up continued to operate with impunity. Journalists investigating the murder were warned to keep silent—or face death.

One month later, on 18 March 2024, a Turkish drone strike in Afgoye killed 23 civilians, including 14 children and 5 women from the marginalized Gorgaarte clan, based on faulty intelligence provided by NISA.

Survivors and grieving families were threatened by intelligence agents and government spokespersons when they tried to speak out.

Local reporters documenting the massacre were accused of terrorism and forced into hiding.

During Salad’s rule, private businesses were not spared. In early 2024, Hormuud Telecom and its subsidiary Salaam Bank were raided by armed NISA agents. Staff were detained, operations halted, and sensitive customer data demanded. The campaign also saw a dozen of company employees killed in suspicious manner.

Business owners and market traders in Mogadishu were extorted under the pretext of “security fees,” and aid convoys were stopped unless portions were surrendered to NISA personnel.

The reappointment of Mahad Salad—despite these chilling events—is a brazen insult to Somalia’s citizens, journalists, business leaders, and minority communities.

No independent investigation has ever been launched into his crimes. No justice has been served for the abducted, tortured, or killed. Instead of accountability, Salad has been rewarded—again.

As Somalia stands at a crossroads, the international community must not stay silent. Donor nations, especially those funding Somali security and governance programs, must demand investigations, impose consequences, and condition support on real reforms.

Somalia’s people deserve safety, justice, and leaders who protect—not persecute—them.

The post Return of Horror: Mahad Salad’s Reappointment Threatens Somalia’s Fragile Peace appeared first on Kaab TV.

In a chilling exposé, Aweys disclosed that 10 officers within NISA had been apprehended for their alleged espionage on behalf of the notorious Al-Shabaab group while two others fled, a revelation that unravels the core of Somalia’s security agency.

Addressing at a press briefing at the Ministry of Information headquarters, Minister Aweys unveiled an account of the unraveling saga. “NISA targets the various moles created in the government departments,” he asserted, laying bare the ominous truth that extends beyond the confines of the security apparatus.

“The Federal Government of Somalia, especially NISA, which has been investigating and monitoring for a long time, has found out that there are people working in the security agencies and government departments passing information to Al-Shabaab,” he emphasized, underscoring the extent of the crisis that reaches deep into the fabric of the nation’s governance.

NISA has taken to its Twitter account to publish images of the two men who allegedly fled, with one of them donning a police uniform. In a tweet, NISA implored, “We pursue these wanted fugitives. Abdisatar Abdikadir Isse and Ayanle Mohamed Ali. If you have any information that can lead their arrest, please contact security agencies.”

We pursue these wanted fugitives.

Abdisatar Abdikadir Isse and Ayanle Mohamed Ali.

If you have any information that can lead their arrest, please contact security agencies. pic.twitter.com/DxTezhgrTM

— NISA (@HSNQ_NISA) August 4, 2023

Our investigation now uncovers that Abdisatar Abdikadir Isse is a member of the influential Abgal’s Waceysle – a sub-clan of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. In contrast, Ayanle Mohamed Ali hails from the Ajuuraan minority group. According to intelligence sources, both have held senior positions within NISA, having defected from the militant group and subsequently rising to prominent roles within the spy agency.

The startling revelation has ignited a firestorm of speculation, raising profound concerns about the nation’s stability and security. The insidious incursion of Al-Shabaab into the very corridors of power has unveiled an intricate web of intrigue and compromise that defies easy resolution.

“The problem is bigger than it is thought”

In a nation beleaguered by conflict and strife, Somalia has grappled with the enigma of a hybrid force that blurs the boundaries between, clan rivalry, insurgency and governance. The revelation of Al-Shabaab’s tentacles reaching within NISA’s ranks underscores the gravity of a situation that was long suspected by government officials and the general public alike.

This is a crisis that stretches beyond the walls of a single institution. Speaking under conditions of anonymity, a security source revealed, “The problem is bigger than it is thought, and it is difficult to fathom how quickly this issue can be remedied unless a complete overhaul is carried out.”

The roots of this crisis can be traced back to a complex history. Since the inception of a defector program for Al-Shabaab in 2014, the ranks of NISA have swelled with recruits, unwittingly facilitating the sinister designs of Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, Amniyat. The infiltration allowed the extremist group to orchestrate a series of audacious and lethal attacks, including the targeted assassination of former Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahman Omar and the mysterious ‘death’ of a prominent young female NISA officer, Ikran Tahlil Farah in June 2021.

Al-Shabaab’s audacity reached new heights under the watchful eye of Mahad Mohamed Salad, who assumed the helm of NISA in late May 2022. The association between Salad and Al-Shabaab leaders raised chilling questions about the extent of compromise within the very echelons of power.

Al-Shabaab’s bold attacks have left an indelible scar on the nation. A relentless onslaught has yielded a harrowing toll, with more than 1,470 valiant soldiers and commanders losing their lives between June 2022 and May 2023, according to figures provided by the National Security Committee and whose details still kept secret. The unrelenting strikes have amplified suspicions that a wellspring of intelligence has emboldened the extremist group, granting them the ability to meticulously plan and execute their nefarious operations.

“Between June 2022 and May 2023, the frequency of attacks surpasses what Al-Shabaab had achieved in the previous three years, particularly targeting military objectives,” observed Abdirahman Nur, a counter-terrorism analyst.

He emphasized, “The execution of these significant and high-profile attacks by Al-Shabaab necessitates access to credible intelligence information and human resources. This raises questions about potential anomalies.”

Amidst the dozens of attacks, notable military figures, including both U.S. and Turkish-trained officers, were targeted and slain by the assailants, with several being recognized as Mahad Salad’s critics and notably originating from rival clans to his own.

In the wake of the harrowing suicide bombing assault that struck a military base in Mogadishu on the 24th of July, a resounding chorus of voices emerged, with Members of Parliament and grieving families of fallen soldiers refusing to be silenced by the horrors. Even the Speaker of Parliament, Sheikh Adan Madobe, could not withhold his own impassioned plea to demand ‘accountability and honest investigation’.

The collective call reverberated with clarity: an unequivocal demand for NISA Director Mahad Salad’s inclusion in the roster of suspects under investigation. Yet, disconcerting reports surfaced, alleging that President Hassan Sheikh swiftly interceded, wielding influence to exert palpable pressure upon the Speaker of Parliament, ultimately compelling the abandonment of the request.

The intricate web of infiltration delves into various captivating incidents. In a stunning twist, Mahad Karate (also known as Abdirahman Warsame), the U.S. Government-designated deputy emir of Al-Shabaab, took center stage as NISA intercepted communications between him and two young members of his family who had been detained in Mogadishu in May this year.

Set in Mogadishu’s Hodan neighborhood, an initial investigation revealed their alleged involvement as intelligence agents and were subsequently detained at Godka Jilacow. They were, however, freed following the intervention of Mahad Salad, ostensibly stalling the active probe adding a layer of complexity to this covert affair.

A disconcerting number of young NISA officers, some previously part of the extremist group, have ascended into leadership roles, potentially compromising national security. The apparent motivations behind this manipulation range from financial incentives and protection promises to the potent mix of clan rivalry and ideological enticements. Former NISA officer Gedi Ali’s astonishment at their unhindered ascent into pivotal positions underlines the urgency of comprehensive vetting mechanisms.

The consequences of this infiltration extend far beyond NISA’s walls. The insidious reach of Al-Shabaab is painted starkly by Minister Daud Aweys, revealing an alarming pattern of moles within various government departments.

“The Federal Government of Somalia, with a particular focus on NISA, has conducted extensive investigations and vigilantly monitored the situation over an extended period. These efforts have unveiled a disconcerting reality: there exist individuals within the security agencies and government departments who have been clandestinely funneling information to Al-Shabaab,” he elaborated.

As the intricate layers of this narrative unravel, the story casts a shadow of doubt over the very institutions sworn to protect the nation, demanding a response that goes beyond surface-level measures.

And that was exactly what has been described by the senior police officials, in their recent briefing to the president, hold a steadfast conviction that virtually no ministry or government agency has remained immune to the infiltration of Al-Shabaab as they underscored the complex web of allegiances and interests, the impact of Al-Shabaab’s infiltration as far-reaching.

The magnitude of this crisis challenges Somalia’s resilience and necessitates a comprehensive response to stem the tide of compromise that has seeped into the heart of the nation.

The post Web of allegiances and interests: Al-Shabaab’s infiltration of NISA appeared first on Kaab TV.

The meeting took place on Friday, and according to local media, discussions centered on enhancing the exchange of vital information and addressing the persistent threat of insurgency in the region.

The arrival of Noordin Haji in Mogadishu sparked heightened security measures, resulting in the temporary blockage of roads leading to the capital. Haji’s visit, shrouded in secrecy until now, highlights the importance of this diplomatic rendezvous between the intelligence agencies of Kenya and Somalia.

The key focus of the discussion between Haji and Salad was the urgency of bolstering intelligence cooperation between their respective agencies.

Both directors emphasized the necessity of sharing information to effectively combat the ongoing insurgency in the Horn of Africa, particularly the threat posed by the extremist group Al-Shabaab, according to sources privy to the matter.

Recent developments in Kenya’s intelligence efforts have resulted in the arrest of a Somali businessman responsible for supplying Al-Shabaab with military equipment and explosive devices in Mombasa.

It is believed that Haji’s visit to Kismayo last month was intended to solidify Kenya’s relationship with Jubbaland, a region in Somalia.

Kenyan troops are stationed in Jubbaland, and concerns have been raised about the withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), in which Kenya plays a vital role.

Mohamud Sayid Adan, the Vice President of Jubbaland, expressed his worries about the hasty decision to withdraw ATMIS forces, stressing that it could have severe implications for the region’s security.

But Kenyan President William Ruto insisted, during an interview with France24 television, that Kenyan forces would remain in Somalia.

Ruto emphasized the commitment of the Kenyan military in supporting stability and security in the country, underscoring his concerns on the increased threats posed by Al-Shabaab.

Kenya has decided to postpone the reopening of its border with Somalia, which was initially announced in May. The delay comes in light of the continuous violence perpetrated by Al-Shabaab, the extremist group responsible for a surge in deadly attacks within Kenya.

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