U.S. lists Al-Shabaab financial facilitators

The US has designated a network of Al-Shabaab financial facilitators who act as key interlocutors between the group and local companies in Somalia.

In a press release on Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury accused the network of engaging “in weapons procurement, financial facilitation, and recruitment activities for al-Shabaab”.

The statement also noted that the terror group “generates around $100 million per year through multiple funding streams, including extortion of local businesses and individuals, collections of fees on goods, as well as the facilitation of illicit trades.”

Washington also accused the group of using the funds to advance its capabilities to attack Somali citizens as well as “disbursing funding to support other al-Qa’ida-affiliated groups.”

The designated Al-Shabaab financial facilitators include Abdullahi Jeeri, Khalif Adale, Hassan Afgooye, Abdikarim Hussein Gagaale, Abdi Samad, and Abdirahman Nurey.

The Treasury said the aforementioned individuals will face sanctions and warned that those who engage in transactions with them will be at risk of secondary sanctions.