Somalia's intelligence agency warns of al Shabaab threat against top leaders
April 5, 2022, 9:57 am

Somalia's intelligence agency warns of al Shabaab threat against top leaders

People walk near the wreckage of a car near the complex housing Somalia’s ministries of works and labor stormed by al-Shabaab militants in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. (File photo: AFP)

The Swissinfo reported, citing Reuters, Somalian intelligence agency warned on Tuesday (5 Apr), the al Shabaab group linked to al Qaeda plans to target Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

The report said that violence by the group, which aims to topple the central government and impose its own severe version of Islamic law, has been an impediment to parliamentary elections taking place since November.

The National Intelligence and Security Agency said on Twitter: "We informed the key government officials of a plot in which al Shabaab mafia wants to target the president and prime minister," adding that "Mohamed Mahir, senior al Shabaab member, is conducting the plot."

The agency gave no further details. Spokespeople at the offices of President Mohamed and Prime Minister Roble were not immediately available to comment.

Al-Shabaab fighters display weapons as they conduct military exercises in northern Mogadishu, Somalia. (File photo AP)

Al Shabaab's spokespeople were not immediately available to comment.

The group frequently attacks civilians and government officials and installations. In February, it attacked election delegates in the capital, Mogadishu. The delegates were unharmed but six bystanders were killed.

Late last month, al Shabaab killed 48 people in Beledweyne, around 300 km (185 miles) north of Mogadishu, including traders, clerics, officials and civilians.

UN pledges to free Somalia from threat of explosive hazards

Among those killed was Amina Mohamed, a vocal critic of the government, on the eve of her expected re-election.

Source: swissinfo

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

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