Somali premier suspends intelligence chief, president objects

Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble on Monday suspended Fahad Yasin, the Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence Service Agency (NISA), a move the president described as unconstitutional.

The dispute over Yasin’s suspension erupted after days of tension in the capital Mogadishu over the mysterious death of Ikran Tahlil Farah, a female NISA officer, more than two months ago.

The prime minister announced he had suspended Yasin and named another official to temporarily lead the agency after the intelligence chief declined his request on Saturday to deliver a report within 48 hours on Farah’s death.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed then issued his own statement saying the prime minister’s move was “unconstitutional”.

“(Yasin) should continue being the director of NISA,” the statement read.