Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE United States has named five leaders of Al-Shabaab as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, SDGTs.
Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State made this known on Monday in a press statement, noting that the action was done to reiterate the United States steadfastness in supporting East African and African Union efforts to counter the threat from the terrorist group.
Blinken noted that Al-Shabaab, one of al-Qa’ida’s most dangerous affiliates, has killed thousands of people, including Americans, in Somalia and across East Africa.
The names include:
Mohamed Mire, a senior al-Shabaab leader responsible for the group’s strategic decision-making in Somalia.
Yasir Jiis, commander of the armed wing, the Jabha, which conducts attack operations.
Yusuf Ahmed Hajji Nurow, also known as Gees Ade, chief of al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, the Amniyat, which plays a key role in the execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in the region.
Mustaf ‘Ato, senior Amniyat official responsible for coordinating and conducting al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia and Kenya.
Mohamoud Abdi Aden, part of the cell that planned the Dusit2 Hotel attack in 2019.
In addition, the statement disclosed that the Department of the Treasury is concurrently designating a network of nine al-Shabaab financial facilitators.
“As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property of those designated today that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and all U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them,” it said.
KN
Tags: al-Shabaab ANTONY J. Blinken Gees Ade Kennedy Nnamani Mohamed Mire Mohamoud Abdi Aden Mustaf ‘Ato Yusuf Ahmed Hajji Nurow
