Mogadishu — Qaranimo Online — September 16, 2026 – Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) says it has disrupted several suspected Al-Shabaab networks that were allegedly preparing to infiltrate Mogadishu and its surrounding areas, arresting 11 suspects during a series of coordinated security operations.
According to a statement issued by NISA on Tuesday, the operations were carried out in Daarusalaam, Garasbaaley, Kaxda, Dayniile and Afgooye. The agency said the targeted networks were preparing activities intended to threaten security in the capital and neighbouring communities.
NISA did not disclose when each operation took place or whether the arrests occurred simultaneously. However, the locations identified by the agency cover districts within Mogadishu as well as areas along the capital’s outskirts, indicating that the operation extended across several jurisdictions.
Security personnel also recovered weapons and other materials that the suspects allegedly planned to use in future attacks, NISA said. The agency did not provide photographs, quantities or descriptions of the seized items.
The identities of the 11 detainees were not released, and NISA did not specify the individual allegations against them. No information was immediately provided about whether they had been formally charged or transferred to judicial authorities.
As a result, those arrested remain suspects, and the claims concerning their alleged involvement with Al-Shabaab have not yet been tested before a court.
Operations aimed at disrupting planned attacks
NISA described the arrests as part of its continuing campaign to identify and disrupt militant cells before they can carry out attacks against civilians, government institutions and security personnel.
The agency said the operation was intended to prevent Al-Shabaab and other armed groups from establishing covert networks inside Mogadishu or using surrounding districts as staging areas for attacks in the capital.
Somali security agencies have increasingly relied on intelligence-led operations, surveillance and targeted arrests to locate suspected operatives, weapons-storage sites and logistical networks linked to militant groups.
NISA urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or information connected to Al-Shabaab and the Somali branch of the Islamic State, commonly known as ISIS-Somalia.
The agency emphasized that public cooperation and the timely sharing of information can help security forces detect threats, dismantle covert networks and prevent planned attacks.
Earlier arrests in and around Mogadishu
The latest operation follows a series of security actions targeting suspected Al-Shabaab cells operating in Mogadishu and its surrounding settlements.
In early September 2026, NISA announced the arrest of nine suspected Al-Shabaab operatives accused of planning attacks in the capital. Those suspects were reportedly operating covertly in Garasbaaley, Kaxda and parts of Ceelasha Biyaha.
The previous arrests and the latest detention of 11 suspects demonstrate the continuing security pressure facing Mogadishu, particularly in districts located on the capital’s expanding outskirts.
The operations also highlight the challenge of preventing armed groups from moving personnel, weapons and equipment between Mogadishu and neighbouring areas.
Heightened security concerns in the capital
The arrests come amid heightened security concerns following reports that Al-Shabaab was attempting to deploy operatives across Mogadishu and nearby communities.
A threat assessment reportedly circulated among security personnel earlier in September warned that more than 100 Al-Shabaab members may have been assigned to infiltrate the capital and support possible attacks.
The reported threats included assassination plots, sniper attacks, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings involving explosive vests. Somali authorities have not publicly released the complete assessment, and the reported number of militants has not been independently verified.
Security forces have consequently increased operations intended to identify suspected cells and prevent militants from gaining access to sensitive locations.
Authorities have also continued to appeal to property owners, transport operators, businesspeople and other members of the public to report suspicious movements rather than knowingly providing accommodation or logistical assistance to suspected militants.
Al-Shabaab remains a persistent threat
Al-Shabaab continues to pose a significant security threat in Somalia despite sustained military operations by the Somali National Army, regional forces, local community fighters and international security partners.
The group has repeatedly targeted government offices, military positions, public spaces, hotels and other civilian locations. It also continues to use bombings, targeted assassinations and complex armed attacks as part of its campaign against the Somali government.
Somali security institutions have responded through military offensives, targeted intelligence operations, arrests and efforts to disrupt the group’s financing, recruitment and supply networks.
The latest arrests represent one part of the broader effort to protect Mogadishu and prevent suspected militant networks from establishing an operational presence in the capital.
NISA said its operations against Al-Shabaab and other armed groups would continue. The agency again called on the public to cooperate with security institutions by promptly reporting credible information about possible threats.
