Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed three bills into law on Wednesday night: the Financial Sanctions Law, the National Intelligence and Security Agency Law, and the National Electricity Law. The signing ceremony was held at Villa Somalia, where President Mohamud expressed gratitude to lawmakers for ensuring that the laws meet the needs and circumstances of the country.

President Mohamud emphasized that every action the Somali government takes, whether for progress, security, or politics, is grounded in the rule of law. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists and to promote law and order through governance by laws and regulations.

However, some international human rights advocates have raised concerns about the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA) bill. The bill would grant the intelligence agency sweeping powers with minimal oversight, potentially leading to human rights violations.

Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, called on President Mohamud to send the draft law back to lawmakers for further review before signing it. She urged Somalia's international partners to raise concerns about the bill's problematic provisions and to pressure the government to revise it to ensure that it upholds human rights and does not grant immunity to abusive intelligence officers.