Al-Shabaab plans to target Somali president and PM, warns spy agency

The news from NISA follows the recent announcement by the Prime Minister that the assassins of Ikraan Tahliil were also behind the plot to assassinate Amino Mohamed, a member of the 10th Parliament.

News Keydmedia Online
5 April 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's National Security and Intelligence Agency [NISA] said it has received information indicating that Al-Shabaab plans to target the president and prime minister of the Horn of Africa nation.

NISA said in a Twitter post that a senior Al-Shabaab operative identified as Mohamed Mahir was tasked with carrying out the high-profile assassination plot against Farmajo and PM Roble.

We have briefed the Heads of State on the threat posed by the Al-Shabaab to the President and the Prime Minister. Mohamed Mahir, a senior member of Al-Shabaab, is coordinating the plan. "We are pursuing anyone involved,' the NISA statement said.

The news from NISA follows the recent announcement by the Prime Minister that the assassins of Ikraan Tahliil were also behind the murder of MP Amino Mohamed in Beledweyne city on March 23.

MPs and opposition figures reacted to the statement, raising serious doubts about the warning issued by NISA, which is run by Fahad Yasin, Farmajo's national security advisor.

Since last year, the two top outgoing Federal Government leaders have been involved in a long-running power struggle, raising fears of further instability in war-torn Somalia.

The international community has encouraged both leaders to focus on the elections, which are already more than a year behind schedule due to the continued political disputes.

A complex election for parliament, which involves clan elders choosing MPs, has not yet finished. It was supposed to have concluded by 15 March but the deadline was missed.

Farmajo's four-year term has expired in February last year but stayed in office for more than a year illegally. The PM is powerless and is facing threats from the presidency.

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