The Federal Government of Somalia has deployed security forces to the residential house of former Commander of the Custodial Corps, General Mahad Abdirahman Adan, also known as Taliye Shub, just a day after he was axed from the role and the state approved the appointment of Major General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud as the new commander.
Reports indicate that the former Commander has been instructed to remain in his house and security forces have been tasked with patrolling his house, instructed not to allow any visitors. It is believed that the decision to dismiss the Commander and place him under house arrest was made by the Somali President, although the official reason for his detention has not been released.
This comes at a time of strained relations between the federal government and the Southwest State.
Sources also indicate that his bodyguards from the custodial corps have been removed, sparking reactions from Somali politicians, with some accusing the government of taking actions that do not align with the country’s governance.
Senator Adan Abdinasir, a member of the Upper House of Parliament, strongly condemned the move, stating that it could endanger security and stability and lead to further reactions from different regions in the country.
The Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Mr. Mohamed Abdi Waare, has called for the immediate lifting of the house arrest imposed on the ex-Commander, emphasizing that his rights should not be violated.
Additionally, former Director of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Mr. Fahad Yasin, has urged the Somali government to release Commander Taliye Shub if he is indeed under house arrest, warning that this could escalate political tensions with unpredictable consequences.
Mahad Abdirahman’s removal and alleged house arrest, comes amid ongoing political tensions between federal authorities and leaders in the Southwest State, where he maintains close ties. He is the father-in-law of Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen and has been viewed as an ally within that regional political bloc.
So far, the Somali government has not addressed these allegations, but the situation appears to be escalating the political dispute in the country, particularly the tensions between the Somali Federal Government and Southwest State.
Mahad Abdirahman was appointed to the role in April 2023 during a cabinet meeting in Mogadishu, taking over as Chief of the Custodial Corps. Before that, he served as a member of Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament representing the Southwest State, and had earlier held the same security position before joining parliament in early 2022.
The Somali Custodial Corps is a key institution within the country’s security system, responsible for managing detention facilities and overseeing inmates nationwide.
