COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 65
3.2.4 National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA)
For a general introduction to the NISA, see section 1.4.7.
As stated by the US Department of State, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) takes the lead
in counterterrorism functions and serves as the rapid‐reaction response force to terrorist attacks in Mogadishu ( 503 ).
During 2013, specially trained forces of NISA tackled attacks, for example on the Benadir regional Court and the UN
Common Compund ( 504 ).
The Alpha Group (Gaashaan) is another force of 600 security personnel based in Mogadishu ( 505 ). The unit was
specially trained and equipped by the CIA ( 506 ) and is attached to the NISA ( 507 ). It operates primarily in the Somali
capital although raids outside the town can occur ( 508 ). This unit is said to be well disciplined ( 509 ).
3.3 General Security Situation
According to a Security Council report of May 2014, ‘The security situation in Somalia continues to be volatile.’ ( 510 )
A report by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that the security situation has been deteriorating since
May 2013 ( 511 ). ‘The ability of federal, local, and regional authorities to prevent and pre‐empt Al‐Shabaab terrorist
attacks remained limited.’ ( 512 ) In addition to that, ‘almost all Somali law enforcement actions against terrorists and
terrorist groups were reactive in nature’ ( 513 ).
Most areas in South/Central Somalia outside the bigger cities are controlled by Al‐Shabaab, while the cities are held
by the FGS and its allies ( 514 ). According to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), interviewed
during a joint Danish and Norwegian fact‐finding mission (November 2013), ‘Wherever there is a presence of Somali
security forces they are regularly attacked by Al‐Shabaab elements or others.’ ( 515 ) In addition, crime rates in areas
under control of the SNAF are rising (including abductions, robberies and Gender Based Violence/GBV) ( 516 ).
However, Matt Bryden underlines that ‘the [FGS]’s ‘feel‐good factor’ has been underpinned by a marked improvement
in security in the streets of Mogadishu, the return of tens of thousands of residents to their homes, a significant
( 503 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Terrorism 2013 - Chapter 2 – Somalia, 30 April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/275199/391112_en.html)
accessed 27 May 2014.
( 504 ) Radio Wehel, Somali President urges NISA to tighten security, 9 January 2014 (http://www.radiowehel.com/2014/01/09/
somali‐president‐urges‐nisa‐to‐tighten‐security/) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 505 ) Lifos, Säkerhetssituationen i södra och centrala Somalia, Rapport från utredningsresa till Nairobi, Kenya i oktober 2013. 20 January 2014 (http://lifos.
migrationsverket.se/dokumentdocumentAttachmentId=40524) accessed 22 June 2014, p. 16; It is stated that it is ‘said there are no more than 150 members’
but added ‘but the team’s membership is a closely‐guarded secret.’, in: The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.
com/news/world/2014/05/25/star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 506 ) The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.
html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 507 ) The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.
html) accessed 27 May 2014; Security Analysis Expert, Austria: e‐mail response, 26 May 2014.
( 508 ) An international organisation in: Lifos, Säkerhetssituationen i södra och centrala Somalia, Rapport från utredningsresa till Nairobi, Kenya i oktober 2013.
20 January 2014 (http://lifos.migrationsverket.se/dokumentdocumentAttachmentId=40524) accessed 22 June 2014, p. 16.
( 509 ) An international organisation in: Lifos, Säkerhetssituationen i södra och centrala Somalia, Rapport från utredningsresa till Nairobi, Kenya i oktober 2013.
20 January 2014 (http://lifos.migrationsverket.se/dokumentdocumentAttachmentId=40524) accessed 22 June 2014, p. 16.
( 510 ) Security Council Report, May 2014 Monthly Forecast – Somalia, 1 May 2014 (http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly‐forecast/2014-05/
somalia_2014_05.php) accessed 2 June 2014.
( 511 ) Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (The Netherlands), Algemeen ambtsbericht Somalië, 19 December 2013 (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/
documenten‐en‐publicaties/ambtsberichten/2013/12/19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie-2013-12-19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie‐december-2013.
pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 25.
( 512 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Terrorism 2013 - Chapter 2 – Somalia, 30 April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/275199/391112_en.html)
accessed 27 May 2014.
( 513 ) US Department of State, Country Report on Terrorism 2013 - Chapter 2 – Somalia, 30 April 2014 (http://www.ecoi.net/local_link/275199/391112_en.html)
accessed 27 May 2014.
( 514 ) Lifos, Säkerhetssituationen i södra och centrala Somalia, Rapport från utredningsresa till Nairobi, Kenya i oktober 2013. 20 January 2014 (http://lifos.
migrationsverket.se/dokumentdocumentAttachmentId=40524) accessed 22 June 2014, p. 6; in its security risk assessment, UNDSS distinguishes between
towns and outlying areas. See: Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central Somalia, March
2014 (http://landinfo.no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 56.
( 515 ) UNDSS in: Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central Somalia, March 2014 (http://landinfo.
no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 47.
( 516 ) An international organisation in: Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central Somalia, March
2014 (http://landinfo.no/asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 29.