REPORT: AL-SHABAAB AND NISA’S COORDINATED ATTACK IN BELEDWEYNE.
Date of Incident: March 03, 2025
Location: Hotel Qahira, Beledweyne, Somalia
Perpetrators: Al-Shabaab Terrorists & Alleged Collaborators within NISA
Casualties: Several killed, including prominent clan elder Raaxa Jecel.
Overview of the Attack
On [03/13/2025], a deadly terrorist attack unfolded in Beledweyne, where Al-Shabaab militants launched a coordinated assault on Hotel Qahira. The attack targeted a high-level meeting between Somali government officials and tribal elders from Al-Shabaab-controlled areas. The discussions aimed to foster cooperation in the fight against Al-Shabaab, making the meeting a strategic target for the terrorist group.
The attack began with a powerful car bomb, detonated outside the hotel by a Land Cruiser packed with explosives. The explosion created widespread destruction, followed by an armed assault as heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants stormed the premises, engaging in a prolonged gunfight.
Key Events During the Siege
1. Initial Explosion & Armed Assault:
A Land Cruiser packed with explosives was detonated outside Hotel Qahira.
Armed Al-Shabaab militants stormed the hotel immediately after the blast.
Guests and officials inside the hotel were caught off guard, leading to chaos and casualties.
2. Brutal Murder of Clan Elders:
Several elders who were attending the meeting were killed.
Notably, Raaxa Jecel, a respected clan elder, was murdered in his sleep by the militants.
3. NISA’s Controversial Response:
The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) took control of the area after a prolonged siege.
However, instead of neutralizing the terrorists, reports indicate that NISA forces allowed Al-Shabaab militants to loot weapons and ammunition from the hotel.
The terrorists were then permitted to safely retreat to their positions without pursuit or engagement.
4. Allegations of Collusion with Al-Shabaab:
Eyewitnesses and security analysts suggest that some members of NISA and AMISOM forces may have actively facilitated the attackers’ escape.
There are widespread concerns that elements within Somalia’s security forces are compromised or infiltrated by Al-Shabaab.
Many prominent figures, including political leaders and human rights activists, have condemned NISA’s actions, accusing them of complicity in the attack.
Implications & Concerns
The attack raises serious concerns regarding Somalia’s security landscape and the integrity of its security forces:
1. Infiltration of State Security by Al-Shabaab:
If NISA operatives indeed facilitated Al-Shabaab’s escape, it confirms fears of deep infiltration within Somalia’s intelligence and military ranks.
This would explain how Al-Shabaab continues to conduct high-profile attacks despite government efforts to counter them.
2. Failure of Security Sector Reforms:
The Somali government has received international support to reform its security sector, yet such incidents highlight the persistent failure to remove compromised individuals.
This event calls for urgent security sector vetting to identify and remove infiltrators.
3. Risk to Government-Affiliated Clan Elders:
Elders who cooperate with the government in counterterrorism efforts face increased risks.
This attack could discourage further engagement, undermining efforts to bring local communities into the fight against Al-Shabaab.
4. Weak Counterterrorism Efforts:
If state forces actively assist terrorists instead of combating them, Somalia’s counterterrorism strategy is fundamentally flawed.
The government must review NISA’s internal operations, ensuring accountability for those involved in aiding Al-Shabaab.
Demands for Immediate Action
Given the severity of the allegations, the following steps are essential:
1. Independent Investigation:
A neutral international body should investigate NISA’s role in the attack.
Any officials found guilty of collusion must be prosecuted and removed from their positions.
2. Security Sector Purge:
The Somali government must conduct a thorough vetting process within NISA and other security institutions.
Officers with suspected ties to Al-Shabaab must be investigated, suspended, or dismissed.
3. Strengthening Oversight of NISA:
Greater transparency and civilian oversight of intelligence operations are needed.
International partners assisting in Somalia’s security reforms must ensure that their support does not empower compromised individuals.
4. Protection for Tribal Elders:
The government must provide enhanced security measures for clan elders willing to cooperate against Al-Shabaab.
Without sufficient protection, collaboration efforts will collapse, allowing Al-Shabaab to strengthen its control over rural areas.
Conclusion
The Beledweyne attack exposes severe security failures and raises alarming questions about NISA’s loyalty and operational integrity. The alleged collaboration between state security forces and Al-Shabaab suggests that Somalia’s internal security crisis is deeper than previously acknowledged. Without immediate intervention, such betrayals will continue to fuel instability, undermining the government’s legitimacy and the broader fight against terrorism.
Urgent action is needed to address these concerns, restore public trust in Somalia’s security institutions, and ensure that no state agency aids those who seek to destroy the nation.
HANAHR Monitoring Desk