Saturday June 14, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on
Saturday attended the official handover ceremony marking the transition of
leadership at the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), where Mahad
Mohamed Salad assumed responsibilities as the new director, succeeding Abdullahi
Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe.

The event, held at NISA headquarters in Mogadishu, was
attended by key government and security officials, including Minister of
Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag, Governor of Banadir and
Mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab, Commander of the Somali
Police Force General Asad Abdullahi Osman, and other senior figures in the
national security apparatus.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud commended the outgoing
director, Sanbaloolshe, for his service and leadership in strengthening
Somalia’s intelligence capacity, particularly in the fight against terrorism
and extremist threats.

He urged the new NISA director, Mahad Mohamed Salad, to build
on the agency’s existing progress by scaling up counter-terrorism operations,
enhancing coordination among security institutions, and fostering greater
public trust in the agency’s work.

“This transition reaffirms our government’s commitment to
reinforcing the national security leadership and ensuring the continuity of
operations aimed at safeguarding Somalia’s stability and the safety of its
citizens,” the President said.

The appointment of Mahad Salad comes at a critical time as
Somalia intensifies efforts to combat Al-Shabaab and restore order in newly
liberated areas across the country.