MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on Tuesday warned of plots orchestrated by the militant group Al-Shabaab to assassinate the President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and his Prime Minister, drawing rebuke from opposition leaders.
The agency said it had shared information about the assassination attempts with the Horn of Africa country’s leaders.
The warning has come hours after the Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble sacked two members of the national electoral body who were allied with the President and attempted to stonewall his efforts to complete parliamentary polls.
Last week, speaking at a prayer ceremony for late opposition MP Amina Mohamed, Roble blamed the allies of the incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo for a bombing in which she was killed in the central town of Baladweyne, saying he had received threats prior to her death. He added that former spy officials behind the murder of a female spy Ikran Tahlil had also conspired against the MP. read more
“We have informed National Leaders about a danger conspired by AS Mafia (Al-Shabaab) in which they want to target the President and the National Prime Minister,” NISA tweeted. “Mohamed Mahir who is a terrorist with AS is involved in the execution of the plot. We are searching for anyone involved.”
Former Minister of Interior Abdi Farah Saeed Juha said the warning was part of attempts by the incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to disrupt ongoing polls, which are more than a year behind their schedule, and to remain in office beyond his constitutional term.
An opposition MP Mahad salad described hearing reports about attempts by the incumbent President to assassinate the Prime Minister, adding that the statement was a telltale sign that the threat was imminent.
“On Thursday, I have said that Farmajo is considering a plot to kill Roble. The smoke-screen by NISA is proof that the execution of the plan nears,” he said.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
