The United States government on Monday (17 October) imposed sanctions on 14 men, including six it said were part of a network that has engaged in weapons procurement, financial facilitation and recruitment for the Somalia-based al-Shabaab militant Islamist group.
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This new, expansive round of sanctions is in addition to drone strikes and military advice from US forces on the ground in Somalia. The US military has carried out a handful of airstrikes in support of Somali government forces over the past several months, with estimates suggesting dozens of al-Shabab fighters have been killed.
Washington says the smuggling network took in money from a variety of sources, including non-governmental organizations, helping al-Shabaab generate an estimated $100 million per year, helping to grow the terror group’s size and capabilities. About a quarter of that money, or some $24 million, is spent on weapons alone, according to an earlier report by the Mogadishu-based security think tank, the Hiraal Institute.
“Treasury is focused on identifying and disrupting al-Shabaab’s illicit networks operating in Eastern Africa,” Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement. “We will continue to take action against the weapons smuggling and fundraising activities of al-Shabaab and other al-Qaida affiliates,” he added.
Horn of Africa regional analyst Matt Bryden says targeting al-Shabaab’s finances is a significant strategy. “The most important thing about it is that it demonstrates that the United States government and presumably the Somali federal government are demonstrating a commitment to a whole-of-government approach to fighting al-Shabaab,” he said.
Somalia’s government warned businesses recently to stop paying off al-Shabaab, saying there would be stiff penalties for anyone succumbing to the group’s extortion efforts.