Somalia’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, has suspended booted out the chief of the country’s intelligence agency, Fahad Yasin over the death of female spy agent, in what could plunge the country into another constitutional crisis on the eve of the parliamentary and presidential elections slated to kick off next month.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Roble appointed Bashir Mohamed Gobe as the interim Director General of the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA).
The PM also asked the military prosecutions to open an official investigation into the death of Ikram Tahlil Farah and pave the way for case proceedings.
The development comes hours after Yasin issued letter demanding convening National Security Council, for him to divulge information surrounding the murder of a female spy agent.
Yasin, who is reportedly in Turkey said the matter touching on the death of Ikran Tahlil Farah required the attention of the Security Council.
“The National Security and Intelligence Service has made a formal request to the President of the Federal Government of Somalia to allow us to convene a meeting of the National Security Council, as chairman of the Security Council. National, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” the letter read in part.
Earlier on Sunday, PM met with Tahlil’s family earlier on Sunday, including her mother Qali Mohamud Guhad, and reportedly promised the family justice.
PM Roble directed Yasin on Saturday to furnish him with a report on the death of Ikran within 48 hours. That timeline expires by Sunday night.
The crisis coincided with the preparation of the country’s Lower House elections which would see the formation of the 11th parliament.
