Puntland president replaces State’s Intelligence Agency chief

Puntland president Abdiwali Mohammad Ali Gas has sacked the state’s intelligence agency (PIA) Chief Sharmarke Sheikh Don and his deputy Abshir Adan.

In presidential decree, the president named Mohamud Abdi Mohamed as the new chief of the state’s secret service agency.  Saed Salad Mohamud also named the new first deputy of the agency.

The president did not state the reasons that prompted the change of agency leadership but insiders say, he (the president) wanted to install more trusted friends in the sensitive posts.

Last month Puntland president fired state’s police Boss Abdirizak Mohamud Yusuf, and the commander of Paramilitary Birmadka Forces Osman Hassan Uke after months long power struggle between the two men.