Somalia, 26 November 2025 - Somali lawmaker Hassan Abdi, has criticised President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Tuesday comments in which he dared Al-Shabaab members to register for national identification cards, warning that such a remarks risks undermining national security.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament on Wednesday, Abdi, member of the House of the People, said militant groups, including Al-Shabaab, ISIS and Al-Qaeda, have a history of exploiting state systems and disguising themselves as civilians or security personnel to carry out attacks on government institutions and public spaces.
He warned that granting official identification to individuals linked to extremist groups could legitimise their movement and expand their operational reach.
“If terrorists like Al-Shabaab and ISIS are given rights, then I believe the President is deliberately preparing the country to come under the control of terrorists,” Hassan Abdi said.
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Speaking at the closing of the National Identification Agency’s (NIRA) in Mogadishu on Tuesday, President Hassan Sheikh said intelligence reports had revealed that Al-Shabaab had instructed its members to obtain national IDs.
He dared the militants to proceed with their plans saying the biometric registration process will help the government identify them.
However, Abdi differed with the President, noting that national IDs are increasingly required for access to vital services such as banking, education and domestic travel, adding that granting access to terrorists would be dangerous.
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