Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, is once again engulfed in violence, with opposition forces seizing control of large parts of the city. While political attention focuses on President Farmaajo, Prime Minister Roble, and opposition leaders, the man with the most influence over the armed landscape may be NISA Director General Fahad Yasin. Under his leadership, NISA has evolved from an intelligence agency into a militarized force, commanding elite units such as the US-trained Gaashan and Waran, the Eritrean-trained Duufaan, Turkish-trained Gorgor, and Qatari-backed Haram’ad. Fahad’s forces have played a central role in both regional conflicts and recent Mogadishu clashes, including alleged assassination attempts on opposition figures. Despite their specialized training, some units have suffered costly battlefield failures. As other military and police commanders defect, NISA, Gorgor, and Haram’ad remain the core of Farmaajo’s protection though even these could fragment along clan lines.