MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has accused armed groups it said were acting under the orders of former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of attacking its security personnel in the capital.
In a statement, NISA said the incidents targeted members of its public protection forces operating at the First Branch of the General Da’ud Division in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district.
The agency said the armed groups had attempted to provoke an armed confrontation with security forces, but the personnel had exercised restraint to prevent violence and protect civilians.
According to NISA, evidence it had gathered indicated that gunmen carrying AK-47 rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades had forcibly entered homes in the Tiintiinley neighbourhood of Wadajir.
The agency also said the same groups attacked its personnel on June 24, 2026, and abducted one officer while he was carrying out his duties. On June 27, it added, the gunmen again obstructed security operations in the General Da’ud Division.
NISA did not provide further details about the alleged abduction or say whether the officer had been found.
The agency described itself as a law-based security institution independent of political rivalries, saying it would not allow its personnel to be drawn into political disputes.
It added that it would not compromise on its responsibility to protect public security and the safety of Somali citizens.
The allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Somalia, where disputes between the federal government and opposition figures have raised concerns over the potential use of security forces in political confrontations.
There was no immediate response from Sharif Sheikh Ahmed or his representatives to the allegations. The claims made by NISA could not be independently verified.
