US offers U$5 million for information on al-Shabaab chief spokesperson
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the identification or location of al-Shabaab key leader Ali Mohamed Rage.
A media note from the Office of the Spokesperson of the US Department of State said Rage, also known as Ali Dheere, "has been al-Shabaab’s chief spokesperson since May 2009 and is a senior leader of the terrorist organization".
The note said he was born in the Hawlwadag district of Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1966 and has been involved in the planning of attacks in Kenya and Somalia.
On 6 August, 2021, the Department of State designated Rage as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
"That designation, among other consequences, blocks all property and interests in property belonging to Rage and may expose persons who engage in certain transactions with Rage to designation. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant financial transaction or provides significant financial services for Rage could be subject to U.S. correspondent account or payable-through account sanctions," the US said.
On 18 February, 2022, the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee added Rage to its Sanctions List for "engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia".
The UN designation requires UN Member States to impose an arms embargo, including related training and financial assistance, a travel ban, and an assets freeze on Rage.
Al-Shabaab is responsible for terrorist attacks in Kenya, Somalia, and neighbouring countries that resulted in loss of life, including of U.S. citizens.
"The terrorist group continues to plot, plan, and conspire to commit terrorist acts against the United States, U.S. interests, and foreign partners," the media note said.
It added that the Department of State designated al-Shabaab as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist in March 2008. In April 2010, al-Shabaab was also added to the 1844 Sanctions List by the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 1844 (2008).
Since its inception in 1984, the Rewards for Justice programme has paid in excess of $250 million to more than 125 people across the globe who provided actionable information that had helped resolve threats to U.S. national security.
-0- PANA MA 1March2023
