The Department of Treasury of the United States has alleged of a possibility that, the Islamic State in Somalia or Abnaa ul-Calipha an Islamic State–affiliated group that primarily operates in the mountainous areas of Puntland could be working with the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab further complicating counterterrorism resolve by Somali troops and allied partner troops.
Its notable that while designating key members of IS-Somalia militants, the department alleged that Islamic State Somalia Wilayat has largely been part of a terrorist weapons trafficking network across East Africa region. IS-Somalia is in small sections notably operating of Puntland in Somalia, while Al-Shabaab is predominant in the country waging is callous insurgency notably in central and southern theaters of Somalia.
Those designated, according to US, have been selling weapons to active terrorist groups, both in Al-Shabaab and IS-branch in Somalia. Conventionally, the two terrorist groups have never worked together but Pentagon now alleges possibility that they could be cooperating in selling and purchasing weapons.
U.S. is keen to help Somalia effectively fight terrorist groups by disruption of financial networks being key in the latest strategy. In his part, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has warned business owners against funding Al-Shabaab terrorists and other extremist terror groups besides individuals and businesses paying taxes to the terrorist groups.
The designation of key members of IS-Somalia follows group’s increased activities in the mountainous regions of Bari a within Puntland, northern Somalia. The US State Department officially designated the Islamic State in Somalia as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2018.
The U.S. Treasury Department highlighted that, the Islamic State in Somalia working alongside other terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab and the Somali pirates besides other smuggling and trafficking groups. Many of those designated are relevant individuals largely involved in other illegal activities, including piracy and environmental crimes, demonstrating their integration with illicit networks operating in the region.
Those designated on Tuesday include Abdirahman Mohamed Omar, whom the Treasury accused of being an ISIS-Somalia member and, as of 2020. Also designated is Isse Mohamoud Yusuf, who Treasury said is an ISIS-Somalia weapons and logistics facilitator in Bari in Puntland and an arms smuggler.
Others include Abdirahman Fahiye Isse Mohamud, who it said is an ISIS-Somalia emir; and Mohamed Ahmed Qahiye, who Treasury Department said is the head of the Amniyat, Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, among others.
