Somalia: NISA denies financing Al-Shabaab attacks against KDF troops

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MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has jumped into the defense of National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] following scathing allegations about its dalliance with Al-Shabaab, terming the reports "misleading" and "false".

In a report accessed by Garowe Online, Kenya raised concerns about NISA's alleged clandestine operations with the designated Somalia-based militants, who have caused havoc within East Africa.

NISA, the report claimed, shared critical intelligence information with Al-Shabaab about the operations of KDF within AMISOM zones and other security agencies, besides financing the Al-Qaeda linked group.

But in a rebuttal, surprisingly issued by Somalia's Ministry of Information and Culture, FGS rubbished the report, terming it "malicious attacks" and "smear campaigns" targeting it and its agencies.

The spy agency, which operates under the controversial former Al-Jazeera journalist Fahad Yasin, usually trains in Kenya before its commissioning. The team is tasked with collecting and sharing security tips to the government.

However, the agency has been under pressure in recent months, with a host of Somalia opposition leaders accusing it of "playing partisan politics" by "engineering" onslaught against critics, a sharp drift from its a constitutional mandate.

But in the statement, the Somali government insisted that "NISA is committed to the war against Al-Shabaab and takes offense to the disparaging news circulating on social media".

A fortnight ago, the agency was also accused of "intimidations and harassment" against reporters, following a tweet in which it implicated renowned journalist Harun Maruf of VOA, claiming that he was a "danger" to national security. It did not specify the allegations.

The fragile UN-backed federal government now warns media outlets especially within Somalia against publishing information with regard to the agency, a move which further amounts to unprecedented censorship.

"Government halts publication and circulation of fabricated news about NISA. We also ask media to take caution prior to publishing unverified information," added the statement which was issued on Friday.

Both Kenya and Somalia have been embroiled diplomatic fallout before, ranging from the controversial Indian Ocean maritime dispute currently at ICJ to the KDF roles within the semi-autonomous Jubaland.

The Jubaland crisis, in which Somali National Army [SNA] clashed with the state's forces in February, saw Magadishu accusing Kenya of "persistent interference with our domestic affairs".

And in the report, Kenya accused NISA of conspiring with Al-Shabaab against KDF troops, with the result being "unwarranted" attacks within Jubaland. KDF troops are stationed within Sectors II and VI in Jubaland.

Senior NISA officials, the report claimed, have been in contact with Al-Shabaab, giving them a tip-off about KDF movement within AMISOM zones in war-torn Somalia. Kenya has lost close to 350 soldiers to Al-Shabaab in the last decade.

"Some of these senior officers are providing highly confidential security information on Kenyan security agencies and personnel to al Shabaab to facilitate the militant group’s targeting of Kenyan security personnel," reads the report.

Multiple sources implicate a senior NISA official as the contact person with the Somalia-based militants. Among others, the official facilitates the group through financing, besides sharing critical information about the movement of KDF troops.

In recent weeks, Al-Shabaab received $1.5 million through a cheque signed by Abdullahi Kulane, a senior NISA agent. Using the NISA networks, Kulane also identifies easy targets for al Shabaab along the Kenyan border, claims the report.

NISA officials are believed to have instigated the deployment of the Somali National Army troops in Mandera in a bid to suck Kenya into internal Somalia affairs, according to sources.

"NISA also deployed some of their telecommunication jamming systems to compromise Safaricom’s networks in Mandera and other adjacent areas in a bid to facilitate Al Shabaab operations in the area," adds the report.

Since January, Kenya has recorded over 18 sporadic attacks within the northeastern region and the coastal strip, leaving over 22 people dead. Most daring among them was the Manda Airfield attack that targeted US troops in Lamu on Jan. 5.

There are around 3,000 KDF troops in Somalia, whose mandate is set to expire in 2021 after Somalia's most anticipated parliamentary and presidential polls. Kenya first deployed troops to Somalia in 2011 under Operation Linda Nchi.

GAROWE ONLINE

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