Somali authorities have stepped up security operations in Mogadishu in recent years, targeting suspected militant cells and seeking to prevent attacks before they are carried out.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said it had dismantled several Al-Shabaab networks allegedly preparing to carry out attacks in the capital Mogadishu and its surrounding areas.
In a statement, NISA said the networks had been established to blend into civilian communities before carrying out bombings and targeted killings.
The agency said 11 alleged members of the networks were arrested during a series of operations conducted in five areas around Mogadishu.
The operations targeted Daarusalaam, Garasbaaley, Kaxda, Dayniile and Afgooye, according to NISA. Security forces also seized weapons and other equipment that the agency said were intended for attacks.
"NISA forces dismantled networks belonging to Al-Shabaab that the enemy had prepared to hide among communities in parts of Mogadishu and its surroundings," the agency said, adding that 11 members of different networks had been detained.
NISA did not provide details on the identities of those arrested, the weapons seized or when the operations were carried out.
The agency said the networks had been preparing to conduct acts that would threaten security in the capital, but did not report any casualties linked to the operations.
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The arrests come as Somali security forces continue efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab's ability to carry out attacks in Mogadishu. The militant group has fought the federal government for more than 15 years and has carried out numerous bombings and armed assaults across Somalia.
NISA said the latest operations were part of ongoing efforts to prevent planned attacks and protect civilians. Al-Shabaab pushes closer to the capital by advancing through the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, raising risks for supply routes like the Mogadishu-Afgooye road
Somali authorities have stepped up security operations in Mogadishu in recent years, targeting suspected militant cells and seeking to prevent attacks before they are carried out.
The government has also sought to strengthen intelligence-led operations as part of its wider campaign against Al-Shabaab, which still controls territory in parts of central and southern Somalia despite losing some major urban positions to government and allied forces.
NISA's statement did not independently establish the extent of the networks' operational capabilities or confirm whether the suspects had already carried out attacks.
The agency nevertheless described the arrests and seizures as a disruption of plans it said were intended to threaten security in Mogadishu and surrounding areas.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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