Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group, has denied reports that it was plotting an attack on Somalia’s president and prime minister.
Pro-al-Shabab Somali Memo website quoted an unnamed senior al-Shabab commander who termed the claim by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) “laughable”.
NISA, according to the Shabab leader, is “not capable” of uncovering the group’s actions.
According to the militants, the spy agency’s statement “indicates an imminent danger” against some officers due to political differences.
“Although the leaders and the officials of the apostate (Somali government) are always our target, we will not allow them to involve us in their disputes,” the jihadist commander was quoted as saying.
The group also disputed the presence of Mohamed Mahir, a prominent al-Shabab operative who Nisa claimed was in charge of the alleged attack plot.
Political squabbles over Somalia’s postponed election continue to jeopardise the country’s security.
On Tuesday, News Central reported that the NISA issued a warning that Al-Shabab militants were planning to assassinate the President and the Prime Minister.
