As Somali court draws up lawsuit on human rights violations, ex-spy chief flees the country

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As Somali court draws up lawsuit on human rights violations, ex-spy chief flees the country

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's military court is nearly to complete a broad lawsuit against former commander of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin Dahir despite the accused fleeing the country into exi

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Ex-NISA chief, Fahad Yasin Dahir has been confirmed to have secretly left the country.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's military court is nearly to complete a broad lawsuit against former commander of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin Dahir despite the accused fleeing the country into exile.

Security sources privy to the matter told Horn Observer that Mr. Fahad, who recently changed his name into Fahad Ahmed Dahir, has covertly travelled to Doha, Qatar on a flight via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday.

His departure comes amid the height of a tense political campaign for the race of the presidency which analysts foresee the defeat of Fahad's closest ally, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.

That was not a surprise to the lawyers and the judges working on the case which involves human rights violations and a murder case which could put the ex-spy chief into a death row, if proven guilty.

"We can confirm that ex-NISA commander, Fahad Yasin had left the country. We have no further details," said one officer at the military court.

It came a week after the country's supreme court declined an application filed by Fahad's lawyers seeking the top level court to overturn a suspension decision on his parliamentary seat. The court found no reason to overturn the suspension decision issued by the electoral commission which refused to accept the initial victory claimed by Mr. Fahad for the seat number 086.

"Having lost in the court application followed by the defeat recorded in the recent parliamentary leadership election, I think he senses the dangers unfolding. If Farmaajo loses the [presidential] race. That would mean less protection for him," said Hassan Mohamed, a member of the parliament from Jubbaland State.

Last week lawyers were working hard in putting together the pieces of evidences to be able to bring the murder case and other cases of human rights violations against the ex-spy chief to the military court.

"The charges we are filing against Mr. Fahad include the disappearance and the murder of Ikran Tahlil Farah as well as several charges related to attacks, unlawful detentions, torture and injuries against journalists and members of the opposition politicians," said one lawyer who is working on the case and sought anonymity due to security concerns.

Ms. Tahlil, 25, was a Somali civil servant with a background in international human rights law and international relations, who was employed by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency. At the time of her disappearance, in June 2021, she had been working in NISA's cybersecurity department.

The Military court and the Banadir regional court did not comment on the matter.

Abdullahi Kulane (popularly known as Kulane Jiis), a U.S-Somali citizen, Yasin Abdullahi Mohamed (Yasin Farey) and Abdikani Dhirane are three other co-accused and mentioned in the lawsuit. Both Kulane Jiis and Yasin Farey are currently members of the new Somali Parliament. Lawyers say prosecution against the pair will require the court to write to the new Speaker of the Parliament.

"Being a member of the Parliament gives you an immunity that provides a shield against criminal charges but that immunity can be revoked because this is the interest of the nation and it is the interest if the justice," said Abdullahi Jimale, a criminal law professor at the Somali university.