Farmajo wins fight over Ikran Tahlil’s case ‘cover-up’

On 13 September 2021, Farmajo made another tactic as he set up a team which was headed by Somalia’s Attorney General to investigate the disappearance of the NISA’s cybersecurity expert.

News Keydmedia Online
18 October 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has battled hard to realize his goal to cover up the murder case of senior intelligence female agent Ikran Tahlil.

Farmajo whose leadership dragged Somalia into chaos and uncertainty used every means he could to defend his right-hand man, Fahad Yasin after he was being convicted of the killing.

Yasin is currently serving as Farmajo’s national security advisor, a post that he uses as a shield following his removal from NISA by PM Mohamed Hussein Roble last month over the case.

On September 8, 2021, Farmajo called for a crisis meeting with the leaders of the five federal states in Somalia on 18 Sep in which Yasin was expected to present a full report on the murder.

Twenty-nine days on, no meeting took place and the hope for justice to be served is fading as the case seems to get out of the public talk after Farmajo created other crises for misleading.

On 13 September 2021, Farmajo made another tactic as he set up a team which was headed by Somalia’s Attorney General to investigate the disappearance of the NISA’s cybersecurity expert.

The inquiry commission was not heard back and this shows that the efforts by the PM to find justice for Ikran ended in vain as the key suspects enjoy impunity as they hold powerful offices.

NISA announced early last month that the spy agent fell into Al-Shabaab's hands and was subsequently murdered. The terrorist group distanced itself from the allegations and denied involvement in the killing. 

The girl has been missing since June 26. She was last seen on CCTV footage while riding a NISA vehicle outside her house around Habar Khadija, the intelligence HQs at 8 pm local time.

Since the case came to light two months ago, Somalia has been embroiled in a political crisis and a power struggle between Farmajo and PM Roble which resulted from the Ikran Tahlil case.

Both leaders have appointed two directors for NISA after Fahad’s exit and the term-ended president won to control the intelligence agency after his appointee Yasin Farey took office.

Gen Bashir Goobe who was named by the PM as acting NISA boss was unable to assume power despite being handed over the finance. He is currently working from the office of the premier.

The ongoing tug-of-war put the country at risk of sliding back into fresh conflict and derailing gains made in the war against Al-Shabaab as the election saw delays thrice in this year alone.

Somalia missed the last hope to elect a new president on Oct 10 due to the deadlock that still remains unresolved. This even led to the halt of the parliamentary voting exercise.

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