MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Security Minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nur on Tuesday instructed the acting chief of the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA) to submit a report on the detention of former Al-Shabaab commander Mukhtar Robow, in what analysts say is an attempt to pressure Southwest regional leader, a key ally of the country’s embattled President.
The minister asked the security agency to hand over the report within 48 hours, citing requests from the relatives of the detained former militant who had raised concern over his health condition as they have no access to information on his whereabouts.
Robow has been in detention for over three years and it is the first time the government of Prime Mister Roble – who has been in office for more than 14 months – has raised the issue. According to analysts, this move was made in retaliation against Southwest President Abdiasis Laftagaren, who had boycotted a meeting called by the Premier on Sunday and said he would attend a parallel summit scheduled to be organized by the President.
There were reports on Monday that the regional President was preparing to airlift hundreds of troops to the capital Mogadishu in a show of support for Somalia’s embattled leader, who appears to have been cornered by all other allies and some members of the international community.
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