AS AL-SHABAAB STRENGTHENS AND APPROACHES MOGADISHU, MAHAD SALAD RETURNS AS NISA DIRECTOR & FAHAD YASIN, A FORMER FOE, IS NOW HIS BIGGEST FAN
Mahad Salad has been reappointed as the Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, a role he previously held in 2022. His return coincides with a period in which al-Shabaab is gradually expanding its influence in the outskirts of Mogadishu, while President Hassan Sheikh faces increasing political pressures and diminishing authority. This shift has further elevated the influence of Mahad Salad, who is reportedly linked to al-Shabaab, making him a more formidable figure in southern Somalia’s political landscape. His network of allies has also expanded significantly, with Fahad Yasin, the former NISA Director under President Farmaajo, now emerging as a friend.
In past interviews, Fahad Yasin has identified himself as a full-fledged member of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI), the predecessor to al-Shabaab and a proud footsoldier of AIAI in Somalia’s Gedo region in the early 1990s. Yasin, a former Al Jazeera journalist, has also been linked by Middle Eastern media to Qatari intelligence.
Yesterday, Fahad Yasin for the first time publicly congratulated Mahad Salad on his reappointment via X. However, their relationship hasn’t always been friendly. In a 2023 interview with Gaylan Media, Fahad accused Mahad Salad—then NISA Director—of being a paid agent of al-Shabaab under the control of Mahad Karate, a senior figure in the militant group who is also been rumored to have MI6 ties. Fahad further alleged that Mahad Salad had orchestrated an assassination attempt on an unnamed former Somali Prime Minister.
Political insiders who closely follow Somalia’s clan dynamics speculate that both individuals have played roles within al-Shabaab, one allegedly linked to the British intelligence, and the other to Turkish and Qatari intelligences. The two now appear to have joined forces, working together to advance the objectives set by their respective handlers.
MAHAD SALAD RETURNS AS NISA DIRECTOR—FAHAD YASIN, A FORMER FOE, IS NOW HIS BIGGEST FAN
Mahad Salad has been reappointed as the Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (@HSNQ_NISA), a role he previously held in 2022. His return comes at a time when… https://t.co/4Bo6ZvXPQX pic.twitter.com/wcAPTeFd7h
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) June 2, 2025
As reports emerge today, al-Shabaab has reportedly taken control of Xawaadley, along with the Burundian military base in the area. In response, Burundian troops were airlifted by a UN helicopter operating under AUSSOM. Meanwhile, unverified claims from al-Shabaab suggest that they have shot down the UN helicopter, though official confirmation is still pending.
Xawaadley, located in Middle Shabelle, approximately 50 kilometers north of Mogadishu, has now fallen under al-Shabaab control. With this strategic gain, the nearby town of Balcad is increasingly vulnerable, and its collapse could be imminent. The shifting dynamics in the region signal a growing challenge for Mogadishu security forces as al-Shabaab continues to expand its territorial reach.
As al-Shabaab maintains pressure on the troops defending Mogadishu, the city’s fall may be only a matter of time. Meanwhile, as instability in southern Somalia intensifies and foreign intelligence agencies with Mahad Salad at the helm maneuver openly, one pressing question remains: Is Puntland ready for the coming battle and Bandiiradley II?
> Daljir Media
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