Fahad Yasin’s election as a Member of Parliament in Somalia marks a turning point in the nation’s political landscape. Once the de facto director of NISA, Yasin has leveraged his strategic alliances, vast Qatari-backed resources, and Islamist patronage networks to emerge as one of Somalia’s most influential power brokers. His rise illustrates a broader shift from traditional clan-based politics toward elite state capture, where political survival is increasingly determined by money, alliances, and external support rather than clan loyalty. While technically from a minority 0.5 clan, Yasin’s financial muscle and ties to Qatar and Turkey have allowed him to bypass Somalia’s entrenched clan hierarchy. His political maneuvering has reshaped parliamentary elections, sidelining clan elders and consolidating power within a small, self-serving elite. This shift risks deepening public mistrust, alienating marginalized clans, and potentially driving some toward Al-Shabaab for influence and protection. If Yasin secures a deputy speaker role, he could play a decisive role in shaping Somalia’s next government and its policies for years to come. However, his dominance raises concerns over democracy, decentralization, human rights, and security sector reform, making his political ascent both a pivotal and controversial development in Somalia’s fragile governance.
Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has followed a troubling path reminiscent of its predecessor, the feared National Security Service (NSS) of the 1970s and 80s. Originally tasked with intelligence gathering, NISA has increasingly operated as a paramilitary and political enforcement arm for Villa Somalia, particularly under Fahad Yasin’s leadership. Flush with Qatari funding, NISA expanded recruitment, secretly sending thousands of young Somalis to Eritrea for training, with many reportedly deployed to fight in Tigray. Families demanding answers about their missing relatives have faced violent repression from elite units such as the Gorgor, Haram’ad, and Dufaan forces. This politicisation of security forces has deepened Somalia’s political fractures, eroding trust in state institutions and diverting resources from combating Al-Shabaab. Rather than focusing on its intelligence mandate, NISA has prioritised regime maintenance, coup-proofing Villa Somalia, and cultivating authoritarian allies like Qatar, Turkey, and Eritrea. The agency’s current trajectory risks repeating the historical mistakes of the NSS, undermining national stability and threatening Somalia’s fragile peace. Reforms are urgently needed to restore NISA’s legitimacy, ensure accountability, and prevent its continued use as a tool for political repression.