Somalia mourns death of its first spy master General Ahmed Abdallah “Dafle”

Somalia on Thursday announced the death of its first spy chief, General Ahmed Suleiman Abdallah “Dafle”, who passed away in Oman was the founder of its first post-independence intelligence agency, the National Security Service (NSS) in 1971.

The announcement was made in a statement shared by current National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA) Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali “Sambololshe” who hailed the late Gen. Dafle for pioneering its first intelligence agency NSS, which played a crucial role in serving the nation well during its golden times when Somalia was so peaceful.

The State television SNTV, however, said Gen. Dafle died in Brussels, Belgium and not Oman as indicated by NISA.

“Director Sambololshe pointed out that the late Gen. Dafle served the Somali state for a long period and became the first director of the intelligence agency in 1971, playing a vital role in the establishment of our intelligence agency,” NISA Director Sambololshe said.

Former NISA Director Fahad Yasin also shared his condolences and said that during his tenure, he renamed the main mosques at the NISA headquarters in Mogadishu after Gen. Dafle for his remarkable achievements.

“When I became NISA chief and saw the legacy Dafle left behind, I named the main mosque at the agency’s headquarters after him. During his reign as head of the intelligence, because of his exploits and intelligence gathering capabilities and networks, he helped Somalia defeat Ethiopia in the 1977 war. Somalia knew what transpired in Mengistu Haile Mariam’s house, let alone the state of the Ethiopian army,” Fahad said.

The late Gen. Dafle had an outstanding career as Somalia’s spy chief during its most developed and peaceful moments.

He was born in Burao in 1937. From 1959 to 1962, he attended military training in the United Kingdom, after which he returned home and took part in many operations to secure the State and was promoted and awarded medals of honour for his patriotism and bravery, leading to his appointment as the first spy chief.

Independence struggle

During his reign as NSS Director in the 70s, Somalia was at its peak of development and progress and played a big role in helping more than 10 African countries in their struggles for independence.

He was the most powerful figure in Somalia after President Gen. Mohamed Siad Bare, who was his father-in-law. The late Gen. Dafle also served as Interior Minister in Barre’s regime.

After the collapse of the State in 1991, he moved to Eritrea before later moving to Belgium, where he lived. The late Gen. Dafle lived a quiet life and rarely spoke.

In a rare undated interview with the State television SNTV, Gen Dafle said he refused to take up Belgium citizenship despite living there for 20 years because of his love for his country Somalia.

“I am an immigrant, and up to now, I have not taken up the citizenship here because I love my Somali nationality, and I do not want to take up another citizenship. I travel using my Somali passport although I rarely travel,” Gen Dafle said.

Asked his views about the situation back home, he said Somalia will rise from its security challenges.

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“The situation in Somalia is getting better. Al-Shabaab will be defeated because the public loathes them and has taken up arms against them together with the government. Once you have no public support, you cannot survive,” he added.

Somalia's Opposition leader, Abdirahman Abdishakur, paid tribute to the late spy chief, saying his spy mastery baffled even the best in the game.

“When Fidel Castro came to Mogadishu to mediate between Somalia and Ethiopia, he said he watched his words very careful as he was sure Gen. Ahmed Suleiman who was by then Minister of Interior had installed listening devices in his room,” Abdirahman said.

Tributes have started pouring in after news of his death became known. Former Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and other officials have shared their condolences, all praising the late Gen for his state-building roles.