NISA: Al-Shabaab plotting to attack Farmaajo and PM Roble

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's controversial National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] now claims Al-Shabaab militants are plotting to eliminate outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, in the latest twist of events in the Horn of Africa nation.

In a post that analysts dismiss as "political", NISA claimed it has already briefed national leaders about the plot, adding that precautions have been taken to protect the two leaders, who are in charge of the country's fragile executive.

While the agency did not give finer details of the plot, it alleged that an individual named Mohamed Mahir, who is believed to be a senior Al-Shabaab leader, is orchestrating an attack against the president and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

Both Roble and Farmaajo are yet to publicly comment on the outrageous claim and it's not clear whether PM Roble was adequately briefed. The two leaders have been battling for the control of the executive for months now.

Attacks targeting senior Somalia government officials including presidents and even former ministers are common in the country. The militants usually target to eliminate senior government officials, security forces, and innocent civilians.

The warning comes as election impasse flares among Somali PM and pro-Villa Somalia members over the federal poll commission. The spy agency has recently been dubbed as dubious given its interference in politics and polls, and its never-ending association with Farmaajo.

Currently, NISA is under the leadership of Abdullahi Farey, a close ally of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Last year, Roble kicked out Fahad Yasin, a former Al-Jazeera journalist who went on to become one of the most feared sleuths often accused of interfering with the country's internal politics.

Last week, PM Roble noted that he was receiving disguised death threat messages from individuals he claimed of knowing them. Given the alleged Al-Shabaab meddling in the spy agency, security experts contend that this is a politically motivated threat by NISA.

While speaking at the funeral of slain MP Amina Mohamed Abdi, Roble added that he's been receiving threats after endorsing the sacking of a regional election committee. In the same event, the PM alleged that Amina and missing intelligence agent Ikran Tahlil were killed by the same people.

NISA's statement has been dismissed as absurdity with analysts contending that the agency is playing politics with the people of Somalia. There have been calls to disband the agency given that it is accused of taking sides on matters of politics.

"I have worked with more than 5 Prime Ministers since 2009/10 in situations much worse than this, never saw this kind of infiltration and conspiracy closely collaborated with the enemy. Having said that, I believe Somalia will prevail and we will come out stronger," says Kamal Gutale, former Chief of Staff at Villa Somalia.

"The timing of the warning issued by NISA is highly suspicious and worrying," adds Mohamed Farole, who is senior security advisor to the Puntland presidency. "The agency is currently under the leadership of a group affiliated with Villa Somalia, which could have a vested interest in this warning."

GAROWE ONLINE