Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday attended the official handover ceremony marking the transition of leadership at the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), where Mahad Mohamed Salad assumed responsibilities as the new director, succeeding Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe.
The event, held at NISA headquarters in Mogadishu, was attended by key government and security officials, including Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag, Governor of Banadir and Mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab, Commander of the Somali Police Force General Asad Abdullahi Osman, and other senior figures in the national security apparatus.President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud commended the outgoing director, Sanbaloolshe, for his service and leadership in strengthening Somalia’s intelligence capacity, particularly in the fight against terrorism and extremist threats.
He urged the new NISA director, Mahad Mohamed Salad, to build on the agency’s existing progress by scaling up counter-terrorism operations, enhancing coordination among security institutions, and fostering greater public trust in the agency’s work.
“This transition reaffirms our government’s commitment to reinforcing the national security leadership and ensuring the continuity of operations aimed at safeguarding Somalia’s stability and the safety of its citizens,” the President said.
The appointment of Mahad Salad comes at a critical time as Somalia intensifies efforts to combat Al-Shabaab and restore order in newly liberated areas across the country.
