1.0 Introduction
Shërbimi Informativ i Shtetit (SHISH) is Albania’s primary intelligence. SHISH was established in 1999 through a restructuring of Albania’s notorious former intelligence organisation SHIK. The 1990s in Albania was a period of instability and anarchy as the former communist nation transitioned to a market economy [source].
From 1992 until 1997, Albania was run by the Democratic Party of Albania (DP) under Prime Minister Sali Berisha. During Berisha’s reign, SHIK was used to crush political dissent and opponents of the regime.
Since 1997, the re-branded SHISH have sought to reconcile with Albanian intelligence’s authoritarian past as the Albanian people have favoured greater European integration. In 2009, Albania became a full NATO member, firmly integrating the West Balkan nation into Europe’s security infrastructure.
The story of Albania’s Intelligence is therefore one of redemption and the challenges of transitioning from an authoritarian to democratic security culture under severe economic pressure.
2.0 SHISH Insignia
2.1 Insignia

SHISH Emblem
“The emblem is composed in the type of medallion, in a classic circular shape, with a silver-grey background and reflex surrounded by a two-tone blue and silver-grey cord.” [source]
3.0 The History of SHISH
3.1 A New Intelligence Organisation For a New Age?
In February 1991, SHIK was established by the Party of Labor as Albania’s communist era entered its final death throes. In hopes of appeasing student protestors, the elected former-Stalinists sought to repackage and rehabilitate the Sigurimi, Albania’s fearsome communist era intelligence agency [source].

The emblem of the communist era Directorate of State Security (Drejtoria e Sigurimit të Shtetit, DSSh)
Under the Enver Hoxha regime (1941-85), the Sigurimi had been the strongarm of the state, responsible for repressing political dissent and enforcing ideological correctness. To the Albanian people, the intelligence services had become closely linked with authoritarianism, corruption and human rights abuses. The SHIK was therefore supposed to embody Albania’s new path towards pluralism and openness [source].
In reality, SHIK retained the Sigurimi’s organisational structure and many communist era personnel retained their positions [source].
3.2 Berisha and the Slide Into Authoritarianism
In March 1992, the Party of Labor was replaced by the Democratic Party (DP) of Albania, ending communist rule in Albania. The leader of DP, Sali Bersiha, promised to bring prosperity to Albania by liberalising the economy and opening up to the West. The reform project quickly made Berisha the centre of Albanian politics. Power centralised in Berisha and few decisions were made outside the Presidential palace as Albania slipped into authoritarianism [source].

Sali Berisha in the early 1990s [source].
Between 1992-93, Sali Berisha embarked on a SHIK reform programme. Berisha’s first move was to appoint Bashkim Gazidede as the new Director of SHIK. Gazidede was a former maths teacher and a devout Muslim. However more importantly, Gazidede was fiercely loyal to Berisha and an ardent anti-communist [source].
In 1992, the SHIK Director fired 60% of the intelligence agency’s employees to sift out employees “compromised by the communist period” [source].
Gazidede then replaced the fired employees with DP loyalists from Northern Albania, the region of Berisha’s origin. By 1993, the SHIK served the Democractic Party as the Sigurimi had with the Communists [source]. Under Berisha and Gazidede, Albania’s Intelligence Service was re-established as the strongarm of the state and the enforcer of authoritarianism.
“SHIK never had relations with the party or the government, only relations with Berisha himself” Tritan Shehu, Democratic Party of Albania politician [source].
3.3 SHIK Collaboration with the CIA
During the early 1990s, the US turned a blind eye to Berisha’s increasing authoritarianism as CIA advisers assisted in rebuilding Albania’s intelligence capabilities. The US and European Community (EC) viewed Berisha as a strong president who would enforce law and order and bring stability [source].
Albania’s lawlessness and corruption was seen by the CIA as a potential gateway for Islamist extremists into Europe [source].
In 1992, three fundraising organisations with links to al-Qaeda operated inside Albania. And until a series of raids in 1998, wanted terrorists from other countries “moved openly on the streets of Triana” [source]. US intelligence therefore developed close ties with the newly independent nation.
“Total Cooperation … They worked in Albania as if they were in New York or Washington” Berisha describing Albania’s relationship with the CIA in the 1990s [source].
The CIA provided SHIK with training and equipment to collect intelligence on foreign Islamist cells that had set up in Albania. However, Berisha reappropriated SHIK’s new surveillance techniques and eavesdropping devices to listen in on political opponents. SHIK surveillance only intensified after the July 1992 elections as Berisha’s monopoly on power began to fade [source].
3.4 The Fall of SHIK and Rise of SHISH
In 1997, Albania was plunged into widespread civil unrest by an economic meltdown caused by the collapse of pyramid schemes. The Berisha government fell as a result and was replaced by the Socialist Party of Albania. On 1 April 1997, SHIK activity was suspended and Gazidezes was forced to resign. In 1999, SHIK was renamed SHISH and the new intelligence agency was organised to be under greater civilian control and accountable to the government as a whole [source].

In 1997, government investment in pyramid schemes resulted in the collapse of the Albanian economy. The Democratic Party of Albania was replaced by the Socialist Party in March 1997. Image [source]
Since the 1990’s, Albania’s Intelligence Services have excelled at stifling foreign terrorist networks seeking to recruit in the majority Muslim nation. In 2016, Albania opened a NATO excellence centre dedicated to the study of foreign terrorist fighters. [source]
4.0 Organisation
4.1 Structure
SHISH is responsible for both Albania’s foreign and domestic intelligence operations. Presidential decree appoints the Director of SHISH. It answers directly to the President and Prime Minister of Albania. [source] This ensures SHISH’s primacy over Albania’s other intelligence agencies such as the Defence Intelligence and Security Agency (DISA) which answers to the Ministry of Defence. [source]
SHISH’s Five Specialist Departments
- Technical Operations
- Foreign Intelligence
- Counter-Espionage
- Counter-Organised Crime
- Counter-Terrorism
In 2023, they appointed Vlora Hyseni as the first female Director of SHISH by President Begaj. [source] For six months, between 2020 and 2021, Hyseni was deputy director of Kosovo’s Intelligence Agency. The intelligence community respects Hyseni. Especially given she has collaborated with Western agencies. [source]

11th Director of Shërbimi Informativ i Shtetit (SHISH), Vlora Hyseni
“The respect that Mrs. Hyseni enjoys in the international intelligence community, constitute a guarantee complete for the further reformation of the Albanian intelligence service.” Albania’s PM speaking about Hyseni, March 2023. [source]
4.2 Reform and Corruption
Reform has been on the SHISH’s agenda almost continually since its inception in 1997. In Albania, there is a widespread public misconception that SHISH’s ranks are rife with corrupt communist figures of old. Nonetheless, despite an almost complete turnover of staff since 1990, former SHISH employees still complain of an overly bureaucratic soviet-style institution.
In 2023, SOT, an Albanian news agency, claimed SHISH was “Hemorrahag[ing]” staff due to low salaries and poor management culture. A former SHISH analyst, under anonymity, stated that SHISH’s pyramid management structure was “upside down”. At SHISH, the former analyst claimed, 70% of resources went to funding administration. This leaves only 30% for collection and analysis. [source] Albanian intelligence’s overly bureaucratic structure is absurd when compared with regional agencies and is likely significantly impacting SHISH’s resource efficiency.

In 2021, an online leak showed the salaries of over 630,000 Albanian private sector workers. Of the 22 highest paid private sector workers, 5 worked for SHISH, earning between 4,000,000 ALL (£34,000) and 9,000,000 ALL (£76,000). For reference, the salary of Albania’s President was only 257,000 ALL (£2,100) [source]. While the name of SHISH employees remained anonymous, the scandal has reignited fears of corruption in the intelligence services. [source] Furthermore, reports that SHISH agents are supplementing their salaries by selling intelligence to organised crime groups has intensified calls for further reforms to the agency. [source]
5.0 Conclusion
Although SHISH is responsible for domestic as well as foreign intelligence collection, the intelligence service is largely concerned with domestic issues. This is largely because of budgetary and resource constraints. At home, Albania faces threats on three fronts: Organised Crime, Terrorism and Russian Hybrid Warfare. The cross border nature of all three threats has required close cooperation with international partners.
Going forwards, SHISH is likely to play an important role in ensuring not only Albania’s security but also their close neighbour Kosovo. Albania share close cultural and linguistic ties with Kosovo making the West Balkan nation NATO’s bulwark against Serbian aggression in the region.