The National Intelligence and Security Agency of Somalia announced on Thursday that it has achieved a significant breakthrough by successfully shutting down 14 news websites allegedly operated by the extremist group Al-Shabab. This marks the first action by the agency to effectively neutralize these platforms in their entirety.
The information was disclosed In an official statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced that its cyber division, following a cybersecurity operation, has uncovered and targeted websites involved in facilitating illicit activities attributed to al-Shabab, the East African affiliate of al-Qaida.
NISA revealed that the operation entailed a thorough examination of suspicious websites, leading to the successful identification of their respective registered owners.
Abdirahman Yusuf Adala, the Deputy Information Minister of Somalia, informed VOA that this initiative is an integral component of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.
In another development, the agency announced that it has additionally deactivated data services for around 2,500 phone numbers linked to the Al-Shabab terrorists.
The cyber security enactment arrives at a moment when Somalia is actively endeavouring to disrupt the communication channels and financial transactions of Al-Shabab, as a component of a declared “total war” against the group.
