Suspicion emerges as Somalia's military court judge evades Al-Shabaab capture

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Suspicion emerges as Somalia's military court judge evades Al-Shabaab capture

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – A harrowing incident unfolded on Monday as Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Ali Nur (Shuute), Chairman of the Somalia Armed Forces Court, narrowly evaded the clutches of the Al-Shabaab group.

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Hassan Ali Nur (popularly known as Shuute) [left] and Mahad Salad [ right]. | PHOTO Combined.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – A harrowing incident unfolded on Monday as Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Ali Nur (Shuute), Chairman of the Somalia Armed Forces Court, narrowly evaded the clutches of the Al-Shabaab group.

In a shocking twist of events, a helicopter carrying Shuute and National Intelligence chief Mahad Salad nearly landed in an Al-Shabaab-controlled town in central Somalia region of Galgadud.

Amidst growing suspicion of a potential assassination plot, security reports have surfaced indicating that Mahad Salad possessed prior knowledge of Al-Shabaab’s capture of the strategic Galcad town, a fact he did not share before the helicopter departed from Dhusamareb.

"Mr. Salad never shared the details of Al-Shabaab’s capture of Galcad even though they were headed there,” revealed a confidential security source.

The ill-fated helicopter was en route to the recently liberated Galcad district, only for the chilling revelation to surface mid-air, prompting the pilot to urgently reroute the flight.

"The alert came just as the helicopter was approaching landing,” the source disclosed "Should it have landed, it would have been a major Al-Shabaab victory”.

Media reports confirm that upon receiving the alert, the pilot promptly initiated a turn back to safety.

Galcad, recently wrested from Al-Shabaab’s grip, has regrettably been recaptured by the extremist group for the third time since the military’s intervention, thereby underscoring the persistent threat and agility of the group in swiftly retaking strategic areas.

In an unexpected turn, security officials refrained from commenting on the incident, further deepening the intrigue surrounding this near-capture encounter.

The complex relationship between Mahad Salad and his cousin Mahad Karate, Al-Shabaab’s Chief Intelligence Unit known as Amniyat, is an open secret. Karate, also known as Abdirahman Warsame, is a designated deputy emir of Al-Shabaab with a $10 million bounty on his head. Both Salad and Karate hail from the same family.

Since his appointment as the Chief of Somalia’s intelligence agency (NISA) in May 2022, Salad has witnessed a disconcerting escalation of Al-Shabaab’s infiltration into NISA’s ranks. A recent revelation exposed 10 NISA officers apprehended for alleged espionage on behalf of Al-Shabaab, with two others fleeing, one of whom absconded with critical security operation briefings and key official identifications including the identity of foreign security advisers.

This development closely followed NISA’s interception of communications between Mahad Karate and his detained family members, who were subsequently released due to Salad’s intervention, citing familial ties.

Adding to the suspicions surrounding Salad, allegations arose that he possessed information about the suicide bombing that claimed the lives of over 40 Somali soldiers from the Biyamal clan. This incident further exposed the longstanding enmity between the Biyamal and Habargedir clans, from which Salad originates.

On the flip side, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute, a member of the Abgaal sub-clan, has an extensive background in the Armed Forces Court. His tenure has been marked by overseeing legal proceedings against numerous Al-Shabaab members, resulting in convictions and sentences.

This has undoubtedly made Shuute a prime target for Al-Shabaab, aiming to capture or eliminate high-ranking government officials.

The incident underscores the challenges faced by the Somali government in retaining control over liberated territories while shedding light on the levels of betrayal and mistrust within the nation’s security apparatus.