The case of Ikraan Tahlil, a pioneering National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) cybersecurity analyst, has become both a political flashpoint in Somalia and a symbol of the fragile gains women have made in the country. Recruited in 2017 on merit, Ikraan rose to head NISA’s cybersecurity division an exceptional achievement in a male-dominated field. Her murder has not only sparked a constitutional crisis between President Farmaajo and Prime Minister Roble but also raised deeper questions about the durability of women’s rights in fragile states. Her story echoes recent events in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s return to power swiftly reversed two decades of progress for women, replacing female-led ministries with male-only leadership and banning most women from public roles. Like the Taliban, Al-Shabaab’s extremist ideology offers no space for women like Ikraan to hold high-ranking positions in the public security sector. The Somali government and its international partners must ensure that any future political settlement with Al-Shabaab protects and advances women’s rights, particularly in sectors where they have historically been underrepresented. Ikraan’s legacy underscores that a peace which sidelines half the population is neither just nor sustainable.
Ikraan Tahlil, a young and dedicated NISA officer, vanished on 26 June 2021, triggering a chain of political events that would plunge Somalia into crisis. Known for her work liaising between NISA and the Banadir Regional Authority, Ikraan’s disappearance was followed by conflicting reports, with the government initially claiming she was abducted and killed by Al-Shabaab an allegation swiftly denied by both her family and the group itself. As public outrage mounted, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble demanded a transparent investigation, clashing with outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and then NISA director Fahad Yasin. Roble’s dismissal of Fahad deepened the standoff, with Farmaajo countering by appointing his own loyalists to key security positions. Ikraan’s family pursued legal action against senior NISA officials, further inflaming tensions. The political rift has since evolved into a constitutional crisis, with the threat of a no-confidence motion against Roble and potential violence looming.