Somalia’s intelligence agency NISA says it killed Bashir Ahmed Haji Nunow, a former Al-Shabaab Amniyat chief accused of involvement in major attacks, during an operation in Jilib.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Tuesday it had killed a senior Al-Shabaab security and intelligence commander accused of involvement in some of the country's deadliest attacks.
NISA said Bashir Ahmed Haji Nunow was killed during a planned operation in Jilib district in the Middle Juba region on the night of October 1, 2026. The agency said it carried out the operation with the help of international partners, but did not identify them or provide details on how the operation was conducted.
According to NISA, Bashir headed Al-Shabaab's Amniyat security and intelligence wing from 2016 to 2024 and operated under several aliases, including Geescadde, Fanax, Gardhuub and Ali Dheere. The Amniyat is considered one of the group's most secretive and powerful branches, responsible for intelligence gathering, surveillance, targeted killings and clandestine operations.
Jilib has long been regarded as a key Al-Shabaab stronghold, hosting elements of the group's leadership, administration and military infrastructure. The town and surrounding areas have repeatedly been targeted by Somali and international forces seeking to disrupt the group's operations.
NISA's identification of the slain commander, however, differs from the name previously recorded for an Al-Shabaab official known as Geescadde, raising questions over whether the aliases refer to the same individual.
The US government in 2022 identified Yusuf Ahmed Hajji Nurow, also known as Gees Cadde, as the head of Al-Shabaab's Amniyat and accused him of playing a major role in planning suicide bombings and assassinations.
A list of sanctions issued by Somalia in 2024 similarly named Yusuf Ahmed Haji Nunow, also known as Geescadde and Bishaar, as the head of the Amniyat. A United Nations report this year referred to Yusuf Ahmed Haji Nurow, known as Gees Adde, and said he was replaced as head of the Amniyat in early 2025 by Abdullah Osman Mohamed, also known as Engineer Ismail.
NISA's statement Tuesday used the name Bashir Ahmed Haji Nunow while listing Geescadde among his aliases. Somali and Arabic names are often transliterated in different ways, while Al-Shabaab members also frequently use multiple noms de guerre. NISA did not explain the discrepancy, and publicly available information does not independently establish that all the names refer to the same person.
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The agency accused Bashir of helping plan and carry out attacks against civilians, including the October 14, 2017 truck bombing at the Zoobe junction in Mogadishu, the deadliest attack in Somalia's history. At least 587 people were killed and hundreds more wounded.
Al-Shabaab never formally claimed responsibility for the 2017 bombing, although the Somali government blamed the group.
NISA also linked Bashir to the December 2019 bombing at Ex-Control Afgooye, which killed more than 90 people, and the twin October 2022 blasts near Somalia's Education Ministry in the Zoobe area that killed at least 121 people. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for both attacks.
The agency also accused him of involvement in attacks targeting hotels and other locations around Mogadishu's Lido Beach, without providing further details.
NISA described the killing as a major blow to Al-Shabaab's leadership and attack networks and said it would continue pursuing senior members accused of planning attacks.
The reported killing comes as Somali forces and their international partners have intensified military operations and air strikes against Al-Shabaab positions and senior figures in southern Somalia.
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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