... the personification of Somali state failure...In a statement, NISA said the suspects were traveling in a car that was intercepted in Afgoye, 30 kilometers west of Mogadishu while transporting electronics to al-Shabaab.
A Ugandan is said to be among the captured men, who are now in NISA custody for interrogation. They will appear in military court in Mogadishu, according to the reports.
NISA stepped up a crackdown on al-Shabaab sleeping cells in the government-controlled towns in Somalia, a move that decreased dramatically the boom-mobileings in Mogadishu.
A pretty good return on the investment, it seems to me.
Al-Shabaab has faced a multi-front offensive from the Somali army backed by clan militias and the US military since last year after the government launched a re-liberation campaign."Security forces in Afgoye nab suspected Al-Shabaab affiliates carrying laptops and solar panels. Ugandan national among 8 detained," state media reports.
Al-Shabaab has been seeking services from foreigners who bring expertise to the team, including bomb-making and detonation.