Hunting down Al-Shabaab leaders in Somalia, US offers rewards worth 155 billion rupees

Government United States of America (US) has increased the reward offer for any information about group leaders Al-Shabaab from Somalia at US$10 million (Rp 155.6 billion) each. The step was taken by Washington DC following the growing number of deadly attacks by Al-Shabaab.

As reported AFP extensionOn Tuesday (11/15/2022), the US State Department said it was for the first time offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that “leads to disruption of financial mechanisms” for Al-affiliated organizations -Qaeda militant group.

Al-Shabaab fighters have stepped up attacks on the capital Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, amid a major offensive operation against the militant group by the new government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The United States has said it is offering $10 million each for information leading to the identification of “Emir” Ahmed Diriye, commander in chief of both Mahad Karate and Jehad Mostafa, who is a US citizen allegedly have had multiple roles in the military group.

“These key Al-Shabaab leaders are responsible for a series of terrorist attacks in Somalia, Kenya and neighboring countries that killed thousands of people,” read a poster released by US authorities, showing the faces of the three al-Shabaab leaders -Shabaab who are wanted.

Diriye is known to have been the leader of Al-Shabaab since the September 2014 death of Ahmed Abdi Godane in a US military strike. In its statement, the US said Diriye had been designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in April 2015 and was subject to UN sanctions.

Meanwhile, Karate, the United States said, has continued to spearhead a string of Al-Shabaab operations since it was declared a terrorist group in April 2015 and has also been subject to United Nations sanctions.

“He retains some command responsibilities over Amniyat, the intelligence and security wing of the group, which oversees suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other countries in the region, and provides logistics and support for Al’s terrorist activities -Shabaab”. by the US authorities.