Saturday February 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Former embattled Somali intelligence chief Fahad Yasin has strongly criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s remarks on Puntland’s fight against the Daacish militant group, saying the federal government’s response has been significantly delayed.
In his Saturday address to the Somali Parliament, President Mohamud announced plans to form a committee to assess and coordinate federal assistance to Puntland in its counterterrorism efforts against Daacish.
Yasin dismissed the announcement as overdue. “One of the proverbs of Yamanta says, ‘Arriving late is better than never showing up,'” he said, implying that the federal government’s response should have come much sooner.
“While it is a positive step that President Hassan is finally turning his attention to Puntland after three months, it is crucial that the Puntland administration welcomes this initiative with goodwill and works collaboratively with the federal government,” Yasin added.
He also urged Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni to abandon his resistance to federal intervention and accept government assistance in the ongoing fight against Daacish.
Fahad Yasin’s sharp criticism of President Hassan Sheikh’s approach is rooted in his own controversial tenure within Somalia’s security and political circles.
Once an Al Jazeera journalist, Yasin shifted into a political operative role, emerging as a key strategist and campaign manager for former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as “Farmaajo,” during the 2017 elections. His influence only grew after Farmaajo’s victory, securing him powerful positions, including Chief of Staff at Villa Somalia and, later, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
While at NISA, he faced allegations of politicizing the agency and prioritizing political agendas over national security concerns. Critics accused him of undermining political structures and destabilizing security institutions. These controversies have led to strained relationships with various political figures, including President Mohamud. In 2020, Mohamud accused Yasin of dismantling political systems and compromising the integrity of security agencies. Yasin’s recent comments may reflect ongoing political rivalries.
On February 1, 2025, U.S. Africa Command, under President Donald Trump’s directive, conducted airstrikes targeting ISIS operatives in the Golis Mountains of Puntland. The operation aimed to eliminate a senior ISIS attack planner and other militants, with initial assessments indicating multiple terrorist casualties and no civilian harm.
Following U.S. airstrikes, President Mohamud commended the operations, stating that they reaffirmed the strong partnership between Somalia and the United States in combating terrorism.
However, the extent of direct federal assistance to Puntland remains contentious. Disputes have arisen over the coordination and support between Mogadishu and Puntland. Somalia’s Foreign Minister accused Puntland of rejecting federal assistance in the anti-ISIS campaign, stating, “Puntland has rejected FGS assistance in the fight against ISIS; we have evidence of this.”
In response, Puntland officials refuted these claims, criticizing the federal government’s support as “symbolic and insufficient.” Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aideed Dirir, emphasized the region’s need for substantial military aid, including weapons and ammunition, to effectively combat ISIS militants entrenched in the Bari region.
The strained relations have raised concerns about the effectiveness of unified counterterrorism efforts in Somalia.
