United States Thursday announced it has placed two Al-shabab commanders on its terrorist list as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
In a statement by State Department, U.S. government noted that Ahmed Iman and Abdifatah Abukar Abdi were blacklisted as terrorists.
“The Department of State has designated Ahmed Iman Ali and Abdifatah Abukar Abdi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1 (b) of Executive order (E.O) 13224, The designations seek to deny Ahmed Iman Ali ( Iman) and Abdifatah Abukar Abdi resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks,” the statement emphasised.
The statement imposed an asset freeze and travel ban against both Iman and Abdi.
“All of their property and interests in property subjected to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked,” ruled the statement.
The statement went further to prohibit citizens of United States from transecting with the two Al-shabab commanders.
“US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transaction with them,” it orders.
The State Department said Iman is a prominent Al-shabaab commander who has been heading the group’s mission in Kenya from 2012.
During this period Iman allegedly planned and executed Kenyan Al-shabab operations that targeted the military base of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) troops under the framework of AMISOM .
“He is director of the group’s Kenyan operations which has targeted Kenyan African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops in Somalia, such as the January 2016 attack in El Adde, Somalia,” U.S. explained.
According to the statement, Iman is responsible for Al-shabab propaganda targeting the kenyan government and civilians.
“Ali ( Iman) is also responsible for Al-shabaab propaganda targeting the kenyan government and civilians, such as a july 2017, video in which he issues threats to Muslims serving in Kenya’s security forces ” said the statement.
The United States also said Abdi who is Kenyan was placed on the Kenyan government’s wanted listed of terrorists.
“In 201t, Abdifatah Abukar Abdi was placed on the Kenyan governments wanted list of terrorists known or suspected to be members of Al-shabab,”
Abdi is said to be wanted in connection with the June 2014, attack in Mpeketoni in Kenya that claimed more than 50 lives.
Discussion about this post