“The National Information and Security Service (NISS) is on the right path of thereform. The institute’sreform tasks are so fruitful,”saysForeign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of House of Peoples’ Representativesas it reviewed the six-month performance of the NISSlast week.
NISS has toiled in averting plots of heinous organizations including those orchestrated by Al-Shabaab and ISIS terrorist groups over the reporting period,as it was indicated.
When the Standing Committee reviewed the six-month performance of the institution, Committee’s Chairperson, Tesfaye Daba,stated that general reform works being carried out by the NISS are better supported by law, procedure, policy and manual.
In terms of security, the works accomplished so far in keeping the country’s peace and security, shows that the institution is on the right path to change, according to him.
The Chairperson mentioned that the Standing Committee had many concerns about NISS. But our recommendations were far from being implemented. That trend has now been practically reverted.
Over the months, theinstitution has worked extensively in preventing illegal weapons and money transfers and terrorist activities. And also, the institutionhas worked to protect the country’s interests including peace and security.
“This is a testament to how much the institution is on the path to reform. It has also proventhe works done in concert with the people and the parliament,” he noted, adding that the joint works have helped the reform process to go in the right direction.
NISS now serves all Ethiopians irrespective of partisanship based on elements such as socio-linguistic and political backgrounds, it was learned.
“The institute did a great job in dismantling Al-Shabaab and ISIS terrorist groups’plotsof orchestratingattacks in different parts of the country.About 17 terrorist groups have been arrested in this operation,” said NISS Director-General, Demelash Gebremichael.
Information obtained from this operation was shared with counterpart organizations ofsixteen countries. Thereby, about 15 al-Shabab members were arrested in Italy, he said.
The U.S.’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)as well expressed gratitude to NISS stating the effectiveness of the operation, he added.
He also unveiled the fact that a large number of illegal firearms and currencies of various countries have been seized in cooperation with neighboring countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, and other African countries.
He noted that the extensive worksthat have been done to prevent corruption saved over six million Birr in tax fraud.He also said efforts are being made to resolve problems by conducting extensive studies on root causes of conflicts.
He stated that the National Information and Security Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Police Commission, the Ministry of Peace, and the Information Network Security Agency have prepared national security plan which is in effect by involving regions, regional police commissioners, Addis Ababa’s and Dire Dawa’s Police Commissioners,and administrative security officials.
A draft proclamation has been issued to bring the institution to a better level.According to the proclamation, NISS will be rebranded with a new logo and name, he said.
If the law is approved soon, the name of the institution will be changed to the National Information Center, he added.
He also said the draft proclamation is part of the reform process to create an independent information and security institution free from political, ethnic and religious groups.
Following the institutional reform, a ten-year strategic plan has also been developed that outlines the level of national intelligence and security that can be achieved within a decade, according to him.
He also noted that the hate speech proclamation would be ratified by the House of Peoples’ Representatives soon.“The institute is working with the Information Network Security Agency to help control social media and prosecute offendersby using the technology after the ratification of the proclamation.”
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 3 January 2020
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
