NISA Chief Meets Ex-PM Kheyre amid Political Standoff

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s intelligence chief, Mahad Mohamed Salad, has reportedly held talks with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre in an effort to ease political tensions following clashes between government forces and armed groups linked to opposition figures in Mogadishu.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Mr Salad, the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), met Mr Kheyre at his residence in the Barmuudow area of the capital as part of behind-the-scenes efforts to prevent further violence.

The talks came after fighting erupted around residences associated with prominent opposition leaders, leaving several people dead and injured, according to local reports. The government and opposition have offered differing accounts of what triggered the clashes.

Sources said the discussions helped secure Mr Kheyre’s return to his previous residence near Adde Stadium in Mogadishu’s Hawlwadag district. Mr Salad reportedly assured the former prime minister of his security, although neither side has publicly commented on the details of the meeting.

The latest tensions come amid a deepening political dispute over Somalia’s electoral process and constitutional changes, issues that have drawn criticism from opposition groups and prompted calls for dialogue from international partners.

The United Nations and regional body IGAD have expressed concern over the recent violence, warning against a repeat of the political crisis that engulfed Somalia in 2021 and urging all sides to resolve their differences through peaceful means.

Political observers say the reported mediation effort reflects attempts by both state institutions and political leaders to prevent the standoff from escalating further as negotiations over Somalia’s political future continue.