Somalia’s NISA Shuts Down 12,000 Al-Shabaab Accounts in Digital Crackdown
Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced the dismantling of over 12,000 online accounts allegedly linked to Al-Shabaab as part of a large-scale operation targeting Alshabab Militants narratives in digital spaces.
NISA, in collaboration with federal internet and media regulators, revealed that the accounts were used to spread disinformation and amplify Al-Shabaab’s ideology across social media platforms. The shutdown, which occurred between July and December 2024, included:
Facebook: 5,648, TikTok: 4,340,Telegram: 1,978 and X : 24 accounts, Also WhatsApp: 15 accounts with 5 Websites also closed.
Many accounts used fake identities and stolen images to conceal their operators, fueling propaganda campaigns. Al-Shabaab has adapted to government crackdowns by exploiting encrypted platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, re-registering domains, and creating anonymous accounts.
The group’s sophisticated media strategies include multilingual messaging in Somali, Arabic, Swahili, and Amharic, with significant investments in media production to bolster recruitment and manipulate narratives. Analysts estimate Al-Shabaab produces up to 25% of extremist content online globally each week.
Somalia’s government has combined military, economic, and ideological approaches to counter Al-Shabaab. NISA urged citizens to report suspicious activities, emphasizing the importance of dismantling