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Somalia’s spy chief overturns PM’s sacking of senior agents

Storyline:National News, Security

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) director Fahad Yasin, one of outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo’s foremost henchmen has reinstated two senior intelligence officials sacked by Prime Minister Mohamed Roble.

Abdullahi Kulane, the deputy director-general and head of airport intelligence Abdiwahab Sheikh Ali, was returned to the agency in a letter dated July 28. However, Yasin reassigned the two with Kulane becoming a political and security assistant while Sheikh Ali now moves to planning and technology.

Abbas Yaquub now replaces Kulane as NISA deputy director and head of human resources. PM Roble kicked out Kulane and Sheikh Ali on July 23 accusing them of blocking some people from travelling from Mogadishu to other parts of the country. The two who have variously been accused of doing Farmaajo’s bidding reportedly barred some politicians allied to Jubbaland president Ahmed Madobe from travelling to Kismayo and Gedo region ahead of elections.

The return of the two puts the Prime Minister in an awkward position and further escalates his relationship with Farmaajo. NISA boss Fahad Yasin is a close ally of Farmaajo and is credited for his ascendency to power in 2017.

The development also brings to the fore power sharing and authority between the Prime Minister and President regarding the appointment and dismissal of heads of security agencies. Also in question is the human resource component within NISA and whether the Prime Minister has overriding power to discipline members of the agency.

Article 130 of the Provisional Constitution tasks both House of Parliament to ‘enact a law governing the structure, functions and levels of the security agencies.’ There is no legislation yet under the Provisional Constitution governing NISA.