Calanthe

The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) (Amharic: የብሔራዊ መረጃና ደህንነት አገልግሎት) is an Intelligence agency of the Ethiopian federal government tasked to defend, protect and advance the National Security and Interests of Ethiopia. It collects, analyze and disseminate intelligence for decision makers.

NISS organizes and leads the Joint Security and Intelligence Task Force established to maintain peace and security across the country. NISS also conducts counter-terrorism activities in collaboration with the different counterpart intelligence agencies and also with the Ethiopian Federal Police , Ethiopian National Defense Force , and other regional security bodies. It was re-established in 2013 GC and renamed the National Intelligence and Security Service.

Organization

The organization is the main agency tasked with law enforcement regarding aviation, border security and checkpoints in airports and land designated areas. They are the main intelligence agency in the country including the federal police bar none.^[1][2] They mainly gather their broad network of information from their HUMINT or human intelligence infrastructure. Whilst the Information Network Security Agency or INSA gathers signals intelligence domestically and overseas. The NISS also gathers FININT or financial intelligence as required by law.^[3]

They can also purchase distribute and make and also license permits to weapons and explosives traveling in and abroad the country as per law.^[3] They are also tasked with counterterrorism inside and outside the country and protect the current constitution from being attacked.^[4]

Law operations

The National Intelligence and Security Service in 2019 showed legal authority and imposed a travel ban on 3,000 individuals from moving out into other countries. This was disclosed after MP's had visited the headquarters of the institution.^[5]

Somalia

Ethiopian NISS and Somalia Intelligence forces worked together to counter act Al-Shabaab and ISIS terrorist through various MOU's signed.^[6]

History

Cooperation abroad

Hailemariam Desalegn was the Prime Minister at the time of its creation

Redwan Hussien, Director General, National Intelligence and Security Service

Cooperation with foreign law enforcement and spy agencies has extended to countries like the U.S, Russia, and Israel. In August 2019, the NISS and the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly combat terrorism.^[7] In November 2020, the NISS and Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, had agreed to fight in counter-terrorism operations jointly.^[8] And on 9 June 2021, the Russian government and NISS had agreed to strengthen cooperation in joint counterterrorism.^[9] The South Korean National Intelligence Service also has a join combat program between the NISS.^[10]

Rebranding and changes

The NISS over its three decades of existence has made politically motivated arrests, and torture, to journalists who oppose the government's points of views, and individuals. The NISS in its rebranding allowed for parliamentary over sight in its conductions of duties and day to day works. News media agencies were allowed also to report on the parliamentary oversight NISS even if most media were government owned and state affiliated one private media was allowed also the Reporter. In an effort to rebrand the institution, NISS will have a new name— the National Intelligence Center (NIC) — as well as a new logo, Demelash (former director of NISS) said. Going in to the merits of the restructuring, Demelash talked about a draft law, currently under scrutiny in the Council of Ministers, which is expected to refer it to the House People's Representatives where it will be ratified. According to Demelash, the new law will clearly demarcate the powers and functions of the intelligence service, and ensure that the activities are subject to institutional oversight and appropriate safeguards. The bill also incorporates an article that will prevent all officers of agency from having any affiliation with political parties so that the intelligence service operation is fully independent and has professional integrity. The officers and the intelligence service, in general, will not have any engagement with activities supporting, promoting or influencing political objectives of any kind, advanced by any lawful political party, organization or group. The bill also plans to suspend the intelligence service from conducting any security vetting or monitoring works over legal political parties or institutions connected to the freedom of expression.^[11] But Ethiopia's democratic index is one of the lowest in the world, and the agency has had criticism regarding its silence on political corruption of government officials.

Domestic Agencies

The NISS is also tasked with graduating and training Republican Guards in the University of National Intelligence and Security. "The Republican Guard students must graduate The National Intelligence and Security University College, which is administered by the NISS. This university, which is operated by the National Intelligence and Security Service, is meant to train them in their disciplinary duties, after they finish and complete their physical trainings in Ethiopia." The Role of protecting the President and Prime Minister and their respective families transferred from the NISS to the Ethiopian Republican Guard a branch of the Ethiopian Armed forces.^{[12][13][14][15]}

References