America increases bounty on 3 Al-Shabaab leaders to Sh1 billion

The government of the United States of America has increased the reward for each of the three wanted Al shabaab leaders to $10,000,000 (Sh1 billion). It will also help in relocating and protecting the informant if needed.

Initially, the US had placed a $5-million bounty on the head of Mahad Karate, also known as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame as they were also looking for Jehad Serwan Mostafa alias Ahmed Gurey, Anwar al-Amriki, Emir Anwa Mostafa and Ahmed Diriye alias Ahmed Umar and Abu Ubaidah.

The three are wanted over numerous terrorist attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries including Kenya where they have targeted government buildings, malls and colleges with non-Muslim students.

“Do you have info that can help us find Diriye, Karate, or Mostafa? Submit your tip now. You could receive a reward of up to $10,000,000! Relocation may be possible. If you have information about al Shabaab’s illicit financial activities, submit a tip via Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp to one of the numbers Kenya: + 254-71-87-12-366 and Somalia: +252-68-43-43-308. You could be eligible for a reward.” US poster reads.

The poster also warned the public that the dreaded al Shabaab militants rely on financing and facilitation networks to sustain their operations and execute terrorist attacks.

The US move comes at the time when the group has heightened attacks in Somalia and the Northern parts of Kenya. US authorities have also revealed that Karate serves as al Shabaab’s shadow deputy leader with command responsibility over the Amniyat, al Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing and the group’s finances.

The Amniyat is tasked with the execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other neighboring countries in the region, and it also provides logistical support for the group’s terrorist activities.

It was responsible for the April 2015 attack on Garissa University College in Kenya where 150 people, mostly students were killed.

On April 10, 2015, the US Department of State designated Karate as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, as amended.

While Mostafa is a US citizen who initially lived and studied in California and held leadership positions with al Shabaab, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation. Authorities believe that he is the highest-ranking US citizen fighting in Somalia with the terrorist organization which he joined in 2005.

He has functioned in many critical capacities including military instructor at the group’s training camps, leading foreign fighters, operating in the group’s media wing, acting as an intermediary between al Shabaab and other terrorist organizations, and leading the group’s use of explosives in major attacks.

He is still playing a critical role in planning operations directed against the Somali government and internationally-supported African Union forces in Somalia and East Africa making him a direct threat to US forces, civilians, and interests.

But Diriye is the leader of al Shabaab, a position he has held since the death of former al Shabaab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane. Prior toreplacing Godane, Diriye served in several positions within al Shabaab, including being Godane’s assistant, the deputy governor of the Lower Juba region of Somalia in 2008, and al Shabaab’s governor of the Bay and Bakool regions of Somalia in 2009.

By 2013, he had become a senior adviser to Godane and served in al Shabaab’s “Interior Department,” where he oversaw the group’s domestic activities.