MOGADISHU (SD) – The Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) has lauded Somali prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble’s move to boot out the controversial boss of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Fahad Yassin amid public uproar over the death of Ikran Tahlil Farah who worked with NISA.

In a statement, the CPC which bring together more than 15 candidates including two former presidents termed the dismissal of Yassin as an affront to justice for Ikran’s family and an effort to ‘to undermine the security of the country and the elections.

The opposition also condemned the outgoing president Farmaajo’s move directing Fahad to remain in office.

On Sunday, Roble suspended the controversial chief of Somalia’s intelligence and Security agency (NISA), Fahad Yasin hours after the PM held meeting with late Ikran Tahlil Farah who worked with the spy agency.

In a statement, Roble relieved Yasin of his job, replacing him with Bashir Mohamed Gobe as the interim Director General of the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA). Gobe previously served as the country’s police chief.

The PM also directed the country’s military court prosecution to launch investigation into the death Ms. Farah who abducted June 26 near her home in Mogadishu’s Abdulaziz district, which is close to the agency’s headquarters.

Hours later, Farmaajo has declared Roble’s dismissal of Fahad as NISA boss illegal and directed Fahad to remain in office.

“The Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Fahad Yassin Haji Dahir, is instructed to continue to lead the National Security and Intelligence Agency, in accordance with the Constitution and the Presidential Decree.

Farmaajo instructed NISA to present the National Security Council (NSC) with its report at the next meeting. The President did not give a specific date on when that meeting would be held. He also directed PM to continue managing the upcoming elections.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia instructs Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and the Council of Ministers to fulfill their responsibility to complete the electoral process effectively,” the statement said.

Ms. Farah abducted June 26 near her home in Mogadishu’s Abdulaziz district, which is close to the agency’s headquarters.

Her disappearance raised a storm with her family constantly asking the government to explain her disappearance or produce her. Politicians also picked up the issue and made it a campaign subject.

Late last week, NISA announced that Ikran was killed by al-Shabaab militants, a move dismissed by the group militant.