By Abdirazak Ali Gesey
Renowned Somali poet & university lecturer defects to Al-Shabaab, sparking heated debate among Somalis .
Nageye Ali Khalif, a prominent university lecturer and celebrated poet, has found himself at the center of a controversy that has captivated the Somali population both at home and abroad.
From the onset , friends that knew Nageye argue that his real is Mustaf Mohamed Ali and Nageye Ali is a profile he created during his stint in Ethiopia
Accusations have emerged suggesting that Khalif has recently defected to the Al-Shabaab militant group, a development that has sent shock waves through the country as it continues to fight the militant group on various fronts, with the support of the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Khalif, known for his contributions to the literary and educational spheres, is believed to have been collaborating with Al-Shabaab for some time now. In addition to his role as a lecturer at the Somali National University, he has been recognized as a leading poet and a champion of the Somali language. He has also played a vital role in training aspiring journalists and media practitioners from the university in Mogadishu.
The news of Khalif’s alleged defection prompted swift action from the government, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signing a letter that dismissed the rector of the Somali National University, Dr. Hassan Omar Mahadallah, and appointed Dr. Hassan Osman Ga’ál as the acting rector.
The Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir, has instructed the university to cooperate with the acting rector, according to the letter dated October 15, 2023.
Interior Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi expressed deep concern over Khalif’s defection, particularly considering his association and interaction with public figures including senior government officials.
Minister Fiqi also asserted that Somali’s are lucky Nageye never put his extremist ideologis into effect and blew himself in Public gatherings .
Sources close to the matter claim that Khalif’s recently published book, “Dibadwareeg,” hinted at his admiration for Al-Shabaab’s ideology. In the literature, he detailed his visits to areas controlled by the group, where he claimed to have been warmly received by its members. Shockingly, the book also featured pictures of Khalif with high-ranking government officials, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire, former Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guleid, and the Senate Speaker, suggesting a troubling connection between Khalif and the political establishment.
Insiders who requested anonymity revealed that Khalif once harbored ambitions of running for a parliamentary seat in the previous elections, opposing Somalia’s first female Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fawzia Yusuf Adam. They alleged that former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo had lobbied for Khalif’s candidacy, but his bid was ultimately thwarted with the intervention of former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, who assumed responsibility for the country’s security during the elections and threw his support behind Adam, leading to her victory.
A source within the university disclosed that Khalif had taught approximately 1,500 students in media studies at the Somali National University, highlighting the significant influence he wielded over aspiring journalists.
Born in 1992 in Bur’ao city, Togdheer region, Khalif received his primary and secondary education in Hargeisa. He obtained his first degree in political science from the New Generation University in Addis Ababa in 2014 and went on to pursue a second degree in journalism from another university in the Ethiopian capital.
In his earlier years, Khalif dabbled in literature, although he kept his works hidden from public view. For the past few years, he has resided in Mogadishu and served as the dean of the journalism faculty at the Somali National University.
Those who know Khalif personally describe him as an unwavering and resolute individual. In December 2018, he applied for a position at the BBC Somali service but was not selected. Abdullahi Sheikh Abdirisaaq, the former editor of BBC Somali, explained on his Facebook page that Khalif was not hired because he refused to refrain from expressing his political views on the breakaway region of Somaliland. Khalif insisted on retaining his controversial poetry while functioning as an independent journalist, which was incompatible with the BBC’s requirement for neutrality. Despite this setback, Abdirisaaq acknowledged Khalif’s strong convictions.
Recent revelations about Khalif has left the public with many questions than answers . Anonymous friends who spoke to Dalsan have claimed that he held anti-Ethiopian and anti-foreigner sentiments, which led to his exclusion from speaking engagements during Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Somalia during the previous administration led by former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
Ironically, Nageye extremist ideologies got him to  even compared former Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane to heroics of late Somali freedom fighter and religious leader Sayyid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan
Khalif reportedly welcomed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, stating similar aspirations for Somalia and expressing support for Al-Shabaab militants in overthrowing the central government. He even composed poems that criticized the presence of ATMIS troops, who are assisting the Somali government in its fight against Al-Shabaab.
The allegations surrounding Nageye Ali Khalif’s defection to Al-Shabaab have sent shockwaves through Somali society. As the country continues its struggle against the Al-shabaab group, this development raises vital questions about the influence of radical ideologies and the potential infiltration of key institutions.
The Somali National University, in particular, now faces the challenge of regaining public trust and ensuring the safety of its students in the wake of this troubling revelation.
Many are now asking themselves how did the government Intelligence unit failed to join the dots and decipher Nageye’s literature work coupled with extremist views .
Starting in August 2022, the Somali government launched a fresh offensive against Al-Shabaab, capitalising on mounting discontent with the group, particularly among the politically dominant Hawiye clan.
Emboldened by clan backing and foreign support, Mogadishu now aims to send soldiers into Al-Shabaab’s southern strongholds.
The Somali government has gained ground in its war with the Al-Shabaab militants mainly in central Somalia. Most of the progress is due to Mogadishu’s leveraging of local discontent with Al-Shabaab to form alliances with clan militias.
