One of the main drivers of Somalia’s chronic insecurity is the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Established to fight terrorism, NISA has instead become a political tool, suppressing dissent and opposition under the current government. The agency operates with impunity, outside civilian oversight, and is accountable only to a small network of political actors. Under DG Fahad Yasin, NISA has evolved into a ruthless secret police, intimidating politicians, journalists, and civil society. It meddles in regional elections, installs leaders loyal to the government, runs social media troll campaigns, and absorbs defectors from Al-Shabaab and ISIS, blurring the line between the state and militant groups. NISA’s growing alignment with Al-I’tisaam and its paramilitary expansion represents a severe strategic threat to Somalia’s medium- and long-term stability. Without reform, the agency risks further “Shabaabification,” undermining democratic values and citizen rights. Stability requires transforming NISA into a civilian intelligence service, accountable to parliament and legitimate institutions. The next Somali government must leverage parliamentary oversight, the Ministry of Internal Security, the Auditor-General, and the Public Prosecutor to overhaul NISA, creating a statutory agency focused on national security rather than political repression.