2025/05/09 by Gábor Sinkó, János Bésenyő · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Intelligence, Security, War Strategy
paper · doi:10.1080/08850607.2025.2487903
openalex publication_date 2025/05/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/13
In Somalia, the National Security Service (NSS) was the first attempt to establish an intelligence agency in the country after the colonial period. The NSS was modeled after the Soviet Committee for State Security (KGB) and was tasked with intelligence, information gathering, and reconnaissance, among others. It was dissolved in 1990, only to be reestablished over two decades later as the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The formation and reorganization of the Somali intelligence apparatus is also highlighted, taking into account the environment and society at that time. It is important to note that, besides NISA, the Somali National Army, the Somali Police Force, the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, and foreign secret services are all involved in intelligence activities in the country. The involvement of foreign actors impacts the secret service and what challenges it needs to overcome to become more effective. It is vital to pay due attention to the study of the Somali secret service because former intelligence culture continues to live on and there is a lot to learn if we are able to draw the right parallels.