Horumar

01.06.2025 – Mogadishu, Somalia

In a significant political maneuver, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reappointed Mahad Mohamed Salad as the head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). This move, a surprise to some but expected to many, carries major implications as the country edges closer to critical elections.

Mahad Salad, a close and trusted ally of President Hassan Sheikh, previously held the NISA position from mid-2022 until his sudden departure in 2024, ostensibly to position himself for the Galmudug presidential elections. His reappointment at this juncture reveals the inner workings of Villa Somalia’s electoral strategy – one that prioritises loyalty, control, and a consolidated security apparatus in the face of an uncertain and increasingly volatile political landscape.

A Loyal Operator in the Shadows

Mahad Salad has long been considered one of Hassan Sheikh’s most loyal political operators. His role in the 2021-2022 election campaign wasn’t just as a quiet campaign manager. He was one of the chief mobilisers of the ‘Badbaado Qaran’ movement and Hassan Sheikh’s political bandwagon, which by the end had morphed from a parliamentary and political opposition bloc into a clan-based militia front aimed at destabilising the capital in an attempt to confront former President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo over electoral disputes.

Mahad played a pivotal role in turning the political discontent into a coordinated campaign of pressure, fanning tensions in Mogadishu, weaponising the constitution while using “clan democracy” as a political tool. Yes, he did broker alliances but it was far from a national platform, rather clan elders and backdoor meetings.

Galmudug Ambitions Delayed, Not Abandoned

In 2024, Mahad stepped down from his role as NISA director with alleged intentions of contesting the Galmudug presidency. The alleged ambition aligned with Villa Somalia’s strategy to embed loyalists across Federal Member States (FMS), ensuring smoother coordination and control. However, the Galmudug election – like many regional polls – has been delayed.

This delay is no accident.

President Hassan Sheikh has effectively granted unconstitutional term extensions to several FMS leaders, allowing allies or pliant incumbents to remain in power without fresh mandates. Galmudug, where President Qoor Qoor’s term has technically expired, is one such example. Rather than risk a destabilising contest or lose influence, Villa Somalia has postponed the election, removing the need for Mahad to vacate his NISA ambitions – at least for now.

A Return to the ‘Frontline’

With national elections approaching and the stakes rising, reappointing Mahad to NISA signals a pivot back to internal security management. It’s a clear message: President Hassan is surrounding himself with loyalists who will execute his agenda especially in the face of political opponents, media scrutiny, and a fragmented opposition.

Mahad Salad’s reappointment is not a reward for national service, rather he has been reinstalled to secure the battefield ahead of elections. It underscores President Mohamud’s deepening reliance on trusted insiders. With federal tensions mounting, international partners skeptical, and time ticking toward a new round of elections, the President is falling back on his inner circle and few are as embedded in that circle as Mahad Salad.