The circulating reports also state that certain officers were arrested prior to being formally relieved of their duties, while others stand accused of maintaining unauthorized ties with government opposition factions.

Reports regarding the NISA restructuring specifically highlight an officer named Shakiib, who was reportedly subjected to arrest, dismissal, and physical abuse.

These allegations raise serious questions regarding the underlying motives behind the reported measures taken against him—specifically whether they stem from professional disputes or issues tied directly to agency operations.

It is further alleged that Officer Shakiib faced insubordination charges for refusing to lead an operation reportedly launched on June 3 against the residence of former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, an incident referred to as the Mirinaayo raid.

Additionally, Major Karkar was reportedly arrested and stripped of his position as NISA Operations Commander.

The reports add that another officer has already been appointed to assume that operational role.

The published reports list several other district-level intelligence commanders who were reportedly removed from their posts across Mogadishu.

The reported reshuffle within NISA raises fundamental questions regarding the official justifications for removing these officers, the mechanisms governing the appointment of new commanders, and whether these measures constitute genuine security sector reform or are driven by underlying operational and political disputes.

Security institutions periodically execute administrative adjustments tied to operational performance, organizational restructuring, and tactical needs.

However, when dismissals are accompanied by allegations of arrest, physical abuse, or accusations of clan bias and opposition alignment, obtaining official clarification and independently verifiable evidence becomes essential to substantiate such claims.

The post Major Security Leadership Reshuffle Announced Among NISA Command Officers in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

A press release issued by the former President’s office stated that concerning security incidents had occurred in recent days, including checkpoints and blockades that disrupted civilian movement and the delivery of essential services in the area where Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed resides.

The office further disclosed that several staff members from the former President’s compound were abducted, while armed forces were deployed to positions adjacent to his home. According to the statement, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s camp exercised maximum restraint to prevent armed confrontation.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed urged national security institutions to remain independent from political rivalries and called for the uniform enforcement of the law across all Somali citizens and political figures.

He additionally warned against utilizing unverified security claims for political pressure or intimidation targeting the opposition.

The former President emphasized that Somalia cannot afford a new security crisis, calling for political disputes to be resolved through dialogue, mutual trust, and a consensus-based electoral framework agreed upon by all stakeholders.

Finally, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s office placed full responsibility on the government for any potential consequences arising from actions it characterized as unlawful, while urging security agencies, political leaders, and international partners to work toward de-escalating the situation and achieving a peaceful resolution to ongoing disputes.

The post Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Denies NISA Allegations, Speaks on Security Situation at His Residence appeared first on Kaab TV.

The post Somali Government Says Senior Al-Shabaab Figure Killed in Jilib Airstrike appeared first on Kaab TV.

These forces are allegedly demanding extortion payments of $30 from individuals who make a living through small businesses.

Those who refuse to pay are threatened with the destruction of their businesses, putting not only their livelihoods but also their families’ safety at risk. NISA claims that roadside shops obstruct traffic, using this as justification for their actions.

Many traders in the Bakara Market have reportedly had their businesses destroyed, with goods looted from tables and floors where they were conducting business. Business owners have expressed that their situation is becoming increasingly difficult, citing the silence of Hamar’s local government regarding tax issues as a source of deep frustration and additional challenges.

What began as an issue confined to Bakara Market has now spread to Seybiyano Junction, where numerous small businesses have been targeted. Operations to demolish shops continued after owners were unable to pay the $30 monthly extortion fee.

The stress on these small traders, many of whom operate on the streets of Mogadishu, is growing. This situation is casting further uncertainty over the daily lives of poor families who rely on the modest income from these businesses.

Extortion is also reported in the Hamarweyn district, particularly involving payments collected from Ganasata. A woman living in Hamarweyn, whose brother has reportedly been forced to pay NISA regularly, spoke about the ongoing harassment.

The post NISA Policies Exacerbate Hardships for Mogadishu Residents appeared first on Kaab TV.

According to a government statement released Tuesday, the precision operation was conducted late Monday night in the Cumar Beere area.

The target, Hassan Siidoow Hussein, was identified as one of Al-Shabaab’s most influential field operatives in Lower Shabelle.

Authorities described him as the chief architect behind the group’s widespread use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have caused heavy civilian casualties, hindered transportation, and disrupted economic activity along key supply routes.

Security officials added that Hussein played a central role in coordinating ambushes, roadside bombings, and logistical support for Al-Shabaab cells operating throughout the region.

His elimination, they said, represents a significant blow to the group’s ability to execute large-scale attacks.

Gaashaan forces also killed three armed militants who were escorting Hussein at the time of the operation.

NISA reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations will continue to intensify as part of the broader national effort to protect civilians, secure major transport corridors, and dismantle remaining insurgent networks across south-central Somalia.

The agency urged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities or information related to Al-Shabaab or ISIS affiliates through official security hotlines and communication channels, emphasizing that community cooperation remains essential to sustaining recent security gains.

The post NISA’s Gaashaan Forces Eliminate Senior Al-Shabaab Bomb-Making Commander in Lower Shabelle appeared first on Kaab TV.

On 8 September 2025, the presidential guards of Galmudug State President Ahmed Abdi Kaariye Qoor Qoor assaulted, threatened, fired live bullets, and kidnapped two journalists: Jafar Mohamed Jimale (reporter) and Abdimajid Abdirahman (cameraman), both working for Kalsan TV.

According to media reports, shortly before the arrest, evicted families—mostly women and children—were protesting near the residence where President Qoor Qoor was staying in Mogadishu, voicing complaints over forced evictions carried out by the federal government. The demonstration was organized by residents displaced from the former fire brigade camp at Wadajir district, who accused Qoor Qoor of breaking his promise to provide them with alternative land after their homes were demolished. In April last year, the president himself had addressed these same families, assuring them they would be allocated permanent land for resettlement.

As the Kalsan TV journalists were covering the protest, President Qoor Qoor deployed his security forces to target them while they were carrying out their professional duties. The journalists told SJS that the president’s armed guards abducted, beat, and held them for more than three hours inside Qoor Qoor’s residence in Hodan district. They were eventually released after the security detail deleted the footage they had recorded.

Galmudug President’s communication team did not respond to SJS calls seeking answers regarding the journalists’ case.

On 28 August 2025, plainclothes officers of the Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) unlawfully detained Feysal Abdi Farah, a reporter for Kalsan TV, and Hassan Mohamed Hashi, a cameraman, while they were covering the rising fish prices at Mogadishu’s fish market in Hamarweyne district.

The journalists told SJS that the armed officers first approached and harassed them while they were interviewing fishmongers, before placing them under arrest. According to Kalsan TV, the journalists were held in an open area of the market for nearly two hours, during which their equipment was confiscated and their recorded content deleted, before they were eventually released.

This attack adds to the growing number of cases in which newly deployed NISA officers in Mogadishu have repeatedly targeted journalists—and even ordinary citizens—for speaking out or criticizing the authorities. As a result, many local media houses have become increasingly reluctant to send their crews into the streets to carry out reporting assignments.

On 28 August, online journalist Farhan Mohamed Barale reported that he received threats of arrest and intimidation from the Dayniile police commander, Captain Ahmed Ali Yalahow, following his reporting on insecurity and armed robberies in the Dayniile district of Mogadishu. The journalist stated that he received phone calls from Captain Yalahow threatening him with arrest. Farhan also posted publicly on his Facebook account, warning his family and friends that if he were to “disappear or face harm”, it would be the responsibility of Captain Yalahow.

On 27 August, a female journalist working for the online platform Dalbile TV, Anisa Ahmed, was arrested at Dayniile police station for a day after Captain Yalahow’s men brought her there. She had been detained following her report on armed robbery incidents including one she was a victim in the Dayniile district.

Captain Yalahow did not respond to calls from SJS. However, SJS reviewed a statement he posted on his personal Facebook account on 25 August, two days after the Dalbile TV report. In the post, Captain Yalahow appeared to acknowledge the occurrence of armed robberies in his district and even urged locals to report such incidents to the police.

“We strongly condemn the assault, threats, live gunfire, and the kidnapping of journalists Jafar Mohamed Jimale and Abdimajid Abdirahman, both working for Kalsan TV. We demand answers from President Qoor Qoor’s office in Galmudug and call for accountability for the security officers who kidnapped and assaulted the journalists,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.

“SJS also condemns the unlawful detention of Feysal Abdi Farah and Hassan Mohamed Hashi by NISA, as well as the threats and intimidation against Farhan Mohamed Barale, all targeted simply for their journalism work,” added Mr. Mumin. “Targeting media professionals for doing their jobs is unacceptable and undermines press freedom in Somalia. We call on the Mogadishu authorities to immediately investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure the safety of journalists so they can report freely without fear of harassment or violence.”

The post Somali Journalists Covering Protests and Market Reporting Attacked by NISA and Galmudug President’s Guards in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

According to Kalsan TV management, journalists Feysal Abdi Farah and Hassan Mohamed Hashi were detained by plainclothes officers at the fish market in Hamarweyne district at around 11:00 a.m., while they were interviewing people at the site.

The journalists were reportedly released at 12:50 p.m.

“Intimidation, threats, and obstruction of work were used against the journalists,” Kalsan TV said in a brief statement.

In recent months, NISA’s plainclothes officers have increasingly targeted journalists working in Mogadishu.

Over the past few months, plainclothes officers armed with pistols have been observed on the city’s streets, specifically targeting journalists gathering news.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) has reported a rise this year in the number of journalists detained in Mogadishu.

Just yesterday, journalist Anisa Ahmed of Dalbile TV was arrested in Dayniile district after reporting on the growing cases of robbery and looting in Mogadishu.

The post Two TV Journalists Detained in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.

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.

The raid was carried out by armed members of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in an apparent attempt to remove an interview deemed critical of the disputed federal electoral commission.

According to two journalists who spoke to SJS, at around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 12 June, fourteen armed NISA officers arrived at the Himilo Somali TV studio on Maka Al-Mukarama Road. Eight officers entered the premises while six remained stationed at the gate. The journalists, who were present inside the studio at the time, said the armed men terrorized the staff. The journalists locked themselves inside an office and refused to open the door. The NISA agents then contacted the station’s manager who were not inside at the time and demanded the removal of an interview broadcast earlier that morning.

In the interview seen by SJS, a young man revealed he had been “abducted from the street by armed men affiliated with the disputed electoral commission” in Mogadishu and was “forcibly registered as a voter without his consent”. The man expressed frustration, saying he felt “powerless and later tore up the registration documents” in protest.

A senior manager at Himilo Somali TV told SJS that the NISA agents also demanded the contact information of the young man interviewed—information the station refused to provide. The officers eventually left the studio but threatened to track down the television editor.  At the time of publication, the interview, which SJS had reviewed, remained available online.

This raid is not an isolated incident. It is part of an ongoing pattern of attacks targeting media outlets and journalists perceived as critical of the electoral commission.

The commission members were appointed in late November 2024 by the council of the ministers, and in December, they announced the selection of Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as their chairman. Multiple sources confirm that Abdikarin holds dual Somali-American citizenship. His appointment and the commission’s voter registration activities have been strongly rejected by opposition groups and regional states, including Puntland and Jubbaland.

• On 5 May 2025, NISA agents raided a residential home and media studio in Mogadishu’s Shibis district belonging to journalists Bashir Ali Shire and Mohamed Omar Baakaay. The journalists had previously spoken out about the abduction of “vulnerable women and youth” and their forced registration as voters. The attack occurred one day after Farah Adani, the Commissioner of Mogadishu’s Karaan district and a known supporter of the president, publicly incited violence against journalists. Adani urged supporters to “take machetes and sticks,” “break the journalist’s bones,” and even demanded “bring him in handcuffs.” He also labeled the journalist a “drug addict” and “worse than terrorists.” Following the threats, Mohamed Omar Baakaay went into hiding. Adani, now a member of the president’s new political party, later issued a public apology.
• On 28 May, Turkish-trained Haramcad forces in Mogadishu’s Kaxda district targeted three journalists: Nuh Farah Mahad (Reporter, RTN TV), Mohamed Abdukadir (Cameraman, RTN TV), Mohamed Abdi Hassan (Reporter, Five Somali TV). The journalists were covering a protest led by local elders who had been excluded from the controversial voter registration process. Shortly after the elders’ press conference, the journalists were attacked by armed officers. They were detained for nearly an hour, threatened, and ordered to surrender their equipment. They were later released after a group of clan elders intervened. The journalists reported that NISA gunmen attempted to shoot at them with pistols. That same day, RTN TV reported that police were conducting door-to-door raids in Kaxda, forcing residents to register as voters.
• In another incident on 26 May, journalists from multiple media outlets were attacked while reporting in Kaxda on the alleged abduction of local laborers by NISA. These laborers—primarily porters and construction workers—were lured with promises of employment, then locked up and forcibly registered as voters, according to media reports.
• A similar occurrence took place at Bakara Market, where journalists were threatened and had their equipment confiscated while documenting cases of alleged forced voter registration in May. Several street vendors and shop owners reported being abducted by NISA and compelled to register against their will, media reported.
• During this month (June 2025), media continued to report increasing incidents of forced voter registration affecting ordinary citizens—including students, teachers, and pedestrians. Victims report being stopped in public and having their photos taken without consent. Affected areas include Bakara Market, neighborhoods in Hodan District, and along Industrial Road, which connects to Dayniile, Yaaqshiid, and Huriwa districts.

SJS attempted to contact Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan for comment, but he was unavailable.

“The ongoing intimidation, raids, and threats against independent journalists and media outlets in Mogadishu who dare to report critically on the disputed voter registration process represent a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on press freedom in Somalia,” said Abdalle Mumin, Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).

“Targeting journalists for exposing voter manipulation and abuse of power is not only unlawful—it undermines democratic principles, silences the voices of the Somali people, and erodes public trust in the system. We call on those involved to immediately end these attacks, hold all responsible parties accountable, and allow the media to report on violations freely and independently,” adds Mr. Mumin.

The post Somali Intelligence Agents Raid Media Outlet After Reports of Forced Voter Registration appeared first on Kaab TV.