OSINT Summary:
Leaked correspondence between the Norwegian Permanent representative to the UN and UN’s Somali and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) has confirmed the ongoing investigations into UK-based Extraction Company Soma Oil and Gas Ltd on alleged links to violent extremism.
The investigations focus on one of the directors and minority shareholder and began in November 2015.
Summary:
UK-based Extraction Company Soma Oil and Gas Ltd is under investigations for alleged links to violent extremism according to leaked correspondence at the United Nations.
The focus of the investigation is however on the company’s East Africa’s director and minority shareholder, Somali-born Norwegian national Hassan Khaire. SEMG claimed that they requested Khaire’s bank and tax records in May 2015 with no reply.
Khaire is suspected to have links with East Africa’s al Qaeda affiliates al Shabaab which is listed as one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world. Khaire is said to be linked to financially support the al Shabaab militants.
Soma Oil and Gas Ltd is also under UK investigation by the Serious Fraud office over corruption allegations in Somalia. Any evidence that would implicate the company to either al Shabaab or corruption would be damaging to a current member of House of Lords Michael Howard.
