A Facebook post featuring a video purportedly showing Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief, Mahad Maxamed Salaad, criticizing the government and intelligence services has been identified as manipulated. The video, circulated on October 12, 2026, depicts Mahad speaking to the media, surrounded by other politicians. The accompanying text accuses him of being involved in planned killings of officials and criticizes his actions.
An investigation by PesaCheck, a fact-checking organization, revealed that the video is a edited version of a clip originally broadcast in March 2021 on Universal Somali TV. At that time, Mahad was a member of parliament and a vocal critic of the government. The original video, which lasts 7 minutes and 31 seconds, shows Mahad accusing the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Maxamed Mursal, of violating parliamentary rules by bringing armed men into the parliament.
In the original footage, Mahad specifically mentions that the armed men were led by Shakib, who took orders from Fahad Yaasiin, the then head of NISA. The manipulated video, however, omits these names and locations, altering the context of Mahad's statements. PesaCheck's analysis using Google reverse image confirmed that the video had been edited and re-released to mislead the public.
The controversy surrounding the video comes amid tensions between the federal government and former President Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed. The government accused Shariif's guards of attacking NISA forces in Mogadishu, while Shariif denied the allegations and claimed that government forces had surrounded his residence. Mahad Salaad's statements in the manipulated video have no direct connection to these events.
PesaCheck's findings highlight the ongoing issue of misinformation on social media platforms. The organization is part of a broader effort to combat fake news and provide accurate information to the public. By verifying the authenticity of videos and posts, PesaCheck aims to promote informed discourse and prevent the spread of misinformation.
The manipulated video has been shared widely on Facebook and other social media platforms, potentially influencing public opinion and contributing to the polarized political climate in Somalia. PesaCheck's work is crucial in this context, as it helps to identify and debunk false information, promoting a more informed public debate.
PesaCheck, a leading fact-checking organization in East Africa, is part of the Code for Africa network, which focuses on promoting digital innovation and media literacy. By working with social media platforms and collaborating with journalists and civil society organizations, PesaCheck aims to create a more informed and critically thinking public.
Key points
- The viral video claiming to show NISA chief Mahad Salaad criticizing the government and intelligence services has been found to be manipulated.
- The original video, from March 2021, shows Mahad as a member of parliament criticizing the Speaker of the House and NISA leadership.
- PesaCheck's investigation highlights the ongoing issue of misinformation on social media platforms and the importance of fact-checking in promoting informed public discourse.
