Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) says it has killed more than 20 senior Al-Shabaab members over the past year in operations targeting the militant group’s leadership and operational networks.
NISA Director Mahad Mohamed Salad announced the figures during an event in Mogadishu on October 15, 2026, held to commemorate the October 14 anniversary. He said the operations were conducted with support from international partners and members of the Somali public.
The announcement offers a glimpse into the intelligence-led campaign against Al-Shabaab, with the agency identifying senior figures involved in areas ranging from intelligence gathering and security to explosives, financial operations and ideological indoctrination.
“Over the past year, the strategic operations conducted killed more than 20 leaders who held senior positions within the Khawarij,” Salad said, using the Somali government’s term for Al-Shabaab.
Among those identified by Salad were Abdullahi Osman Mohamed; Abdullahi Hassan Abdi Cosoble, known as Abdullahi Wadaad; Suleiman Omar Fidow; Bashir Haji Ahmed Nunow, known as Geescadde; Abdullahi Hashi; Ahmed Dubad Xidig, known as Adan Dheere; Mohamed Osman Mohamed; and Abdishakur Yahye Ali.
According to the intelligence chief, the individuals killed occupied senior positions in different parts of Al-Shabaab’s operations. The roles he outlined included intelligence and security work, handling explosives, managing finances and indoctrinating members.
The range of responsibilities points to the areas Somali authorities say they are targeting beyond the group’s fighters on the battlefield. Intelligence networks, financial channels, explosives expertise and recruitment or indoctrination activities can all support a militant organisation’s ability to operate.
However, the announcement did not provide individual profiles of the eight named figures or specify the particular activities attributed to each of them. It also did not clarify whether all eight were among the more than 20 people reportedly killed during the past year.
Intelligence Operations to Continue
Salad said NISA was continuing operations against Al-Shabaab leaders and networks, signalling that the agency’s campaign would remain focused on the group’s senior members and supporting structures.
He credited international partners and the Somali public with supporting the operations, although he did not detail the nature of that assistance or identify the partners involved.
Public cooperation can be important to intelligence work, particularly when information from communities helps security agencies identify suspected militant activity. International cooperation can also support intelligence sharing and operational capabilities, although the agency did not explain which forms of support contributed to the reported results.
The latest announcement comes as Somalia continues its broader campaign against Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the federal government for years and carried out attacks against security forces and civilians.
The killing of senior figures can disrupt leadership and specialised functions, but the longer-term effect depends on whether the group can replace those individuals, maintain its networks and continue carrying out attacks.
NISA has not provided further details on the operations behind the latest figures. The announcement therefore establishes the agency’s account of its achievements over the past year, while leaving questions about the locations, timing and individual circumstances of the killings unanswered.