National Intelligence and Security Agency

The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Somali: Hay'ada Sirdoonka iyo Nabadsugida Qaranka (HSNQ)[1] is the national intelligence agency of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It is in-charge of secret service, intelligence and covert operations. The main objective of (NISA) is to collect the intelligence data through different means and to safeguard the national interests. The job is to identify and block threats to the state and its citizens and to reinforce the country's security and safety according to the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The NISA is also closely intertwined with the National Armed Forces and regularly cooperates with them.

National Intelligence and Security Agency
Hay'ada Sirdoonka iyo Nabadsugida Qaranka
Seal of the National Intelligence and Security Agency
Intelligence agency overview
FormedJanuary 8, 1970 (1970-01-08)
Preceding Intelligence agency
TypeIntelligence & Counter Intelligence
Jurisdiction Somalia
HeadquartersMogadishu, Somalia
Minister responsible
  • Hamzi MO Garad
Intelligence agency executive
  • Hussein abdullahi Ducaysane
    Director General of NISA
Parent department Office Of The President

Overview

NISA was officially reestablished in January 2013 by the new Somali Federal Government in place of the defunct National Security Service (NSS).[2][3] It was part of a broader effort by the federal authorities to re-establish state institutions.[3]

Headquartered in Mogadishu, NISA is assisted by AMISOM.[2][3] According to the former Minister of State for the Presidency Abdulkadir Moallin Noor, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency also provided training to NISA officials during the latter agency's formative stages.[4]

NISA personnel have conducted security operations against Al-Shabaab elements in the capital.[5]

Counterterrorism and paramilitary forces

In April 2014, the United Arab Emirates donated several battle wagons and other equipment to NISA.[6]

NISA personnel also have digital camouflage as standard issue uniforms and have orange balaclavas and wear patrol caps or slate berets when not on missions, and have ACOG scopes and lasers on their equipment, and generally have more modern equipment than the Somali Armed Forces.

As of July 2014, the Gaashaan ("Shield") counterterrorism force constitutes a fundamental part of the National Intelligence and Security Agency.[7] It is a commando force trained by the United States. NISA associates indicate that Gaashaan consists of two units totaling 120 men.[8]

Alpha Group is Gaashan's first component, and includes around 40 soldiers and 3 officers who were chosen from amongst 190 special Somali National Army troops. According to Somali defense officials, this unit received training in the United States between late 2009 and early 2010. Derek Gannon said that the Alpha Group's training regimen includes counter-insurgency, counter-terror operation and executive-protecting, with an emphasis on quick reaction in an urban environment. The soldiers are also equipped with guns with night-vision scopes.[8]

Gaashaan's second counter-terrorism unit is the Bravo Group. It received training at the Aden Adde International Airport (Mogadishu Airport) in 2011.[8]

A third commando unit, the Danab Brigade (Somali: "Lightning"), is part of the Somali National Army. It is modeled after the U.S. Rangers.[8]

Abdullah Mohamed Ali "Sanbaloolshe" an elected MP of the national lower house of parliament, was on April 6, 2017 reappointed to the position of NISA Director General.[9]

In May 2018 it was reported that the SNIS has grown to 700 personnel, with the Waran having 300 personnel and Gaashaan roughly 400.[10]

Equipment
Origin Notes
Toyota Hilux Japan All NISA personnel Hiluxes are black with "NISA" written on the hood in white stencil, also the standard infantry transport vehicle
Casspir South Africa NISA Casspirs have black "NISA" lettering.
Origin Type Notes
TT pistol[11]  Soviet Union Pistol
Makarov pistol Soviet Union Pistol
Sterling submachine gun[11]  United Kingdom Submachine gun
AK-47[11]  Soviet Union Assault Rifle Standard issue rifle of the Somali Armed Forces along with other AK-47 Variants. ACOG scopes and picanilly rails, laser sights.
AKM[11][12]  Soviet Union Assault Rifle
AK74 Soviet Union Assault Rifle Used by NISA special forces units Gaashaan and Waran.[13] and DANAB commandos.[14] AKS-74 variant. ACOG scopes and picanilly rails, laser sights.
vz. 58[15]  Czech Republic Assault Rifle
M4 carbine  United States Assault Rifle
M16 rifle[11]  United States Assault Rifle
Type 56 Assault Rifle[16]  People's Republic of China Assault Rifle Secondary Service Rifle in the SNA, ACOG scopes and picanilly rails, laser sights and foregrips.
Heckler & Koch G3[11]  Germany Battle Rifle
FN FAL[11]  Belgium Battle Rifle
M14 rifle[11]  United States Battle Rifle
Dragunov sniper rifle[17][18]  Soviet Union Marksman Rifle PSO-1 scope.
PSL Romania Marksman Rifle PSO-1 scope.
RPD machine gun[11]  Soviet Union Light Machine Gun
RPK machine gun[11]  Soviet Union Light Machine Gun
RP-46[11]  Soviet Union Machine Gun
AA-52 machine gun[11]  France Machine Gun
PK machine gun[11][12]  Soviet Union Machine Gun
FN MAG[11]  Belgium Machine Gun
DShK[11]  Soviet Union Heavy Machine Gun
M2 Browning[11]  United States Heavy Machine Gun
M79 grenade launcher[11]  United States Grenade Launcher
RPG-2[11]  Soviet Union Grenade Launcher
RPG-7[11]  Soviet Union Grenade Launcher
MPT-76  Turkey Assault Rifle 450 Delivered[19]

Notes
  1. "NISA (@HSNQ_NISA) on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  2. "Somalia Re-Opens its National Intelligence & Security Agency". Walta Info. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  3. "PRESS RELEASE: AU Special Representative reaffirms AMISOM's continued support to the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)" (PDF). African Union. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. "CIA using secret Somalia facility, prison: report". AFP. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  5. "Somalia: Mogadishu security operation nets 27 Al Shabaab members". Garowe Online. Garowe Online. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. "UAE efforts vital to future of Somalia". The National. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  7. Pugliese, David (20 July 2014). "Somali-Canadian leads new counter-terrorism force". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  8. Dan Joseph, Harun Maruf (31 July 2014). "US-Trained Somali Commandos Fight Al-Shabab". VOA. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  9. Dubbad, Abdirashid. "Sanbaloolshe oo loo magacaabay Taliyaha NISA & Duqa Muqdisho oo xilka laga qaaday | RADIO RISAALA:". radiorisaala.com. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  10. https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/xw7nw3/somalia-is-looking-like-another-full-blown-us-war
  11. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  12. AfricaNews (9 May 2017). "Several soldiers killed in al Shabaab attack on Somali army base – Africanews". africanews.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  13. NISA (2016-01-23). "HSNQ_NISA Director General with his Elite Gaashaan & Waran, We will defend our ppl, #TweetLiidoPicturespic.twitter.com/MsZeyfukIX". @HSNQ_NISA. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  14. TP 🤟🏻 (2018-03-24). "Somali Army SOF operators #DANABpic.twitter.com/QphsTHOC1O". @tacticalporn. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  15. "Daawo Sawirada: Qaabka ay Ciidamada Puntland ula wareegen Qandala". caasimada.net. 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  16. Charbonneau, Louis. "Exclusive: Somalia army weapons sold on open market – U.N. monitors". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Somali daily News – Meydadka Askar Itoobiyaan ah oo lagu soo bandhigay Gobolka Galgaduud+SAWIRO". shinganinews.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  19. "Turkish Firms Receive Orders to Manufacture 45000 Locally-made MPT-76 Rifles". defenseworld.net. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

References
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