The U.S. has imposed sanctions on several Kenyan companies and businessmen accused of raising and laundering millions of dollars for the deadly al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced the sanctions on Wednesday against a network of 16 individuals and entities across the Horn of Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus that it says generates funds for al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate responsible for horrific terrorist attacks in East Africa.
Among those sanctioned are two prominent Kenyan companies – Haleel Commodities Limited and Crown Bus Services – as well as businessmen Faysal Yusuf Dini and Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale. They were blacklisted for allegedly providing financial support and laundering money for al-Shabaab.
“The United States is committed to working with regional partners to root out terror financing networks and the entities they abuse to raise and move funds,” said Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The Treasury alleges that Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C. and its subsidiaries across East Africa and Cyprus form “a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab.” It accuses Kenyan businessman Dini of leveraging Haleel Group’s leadership “to transfer funds on behalf of al-Shabaab.”
Dini is also said to work closely with Awale “to plan investment projects and money laundering activities” for the militant group, including managing funds laundered through Awale’s Crown Bus Services company which has also supported al-Shabaab logistics.
“Today’s action is part of a multifaceted effort by Treasury to support the Somali government’s economic offensive against al-Shabaab—one of three pillars in their campaign to degrade this deadly terrorist group,” Nelson stated.
Al-Shabaab, which seeks to overthrow Somalia’s central government, generates over $100 million per year through extorting businesses and help from affiliated moneymen, according to the Treasury. Its revenues fund al-Qaeda’s “global ambitions to sow discord and undermine good governance.”
The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets of those blacklisted and prohibit Americans from dealing with them. The Treasury vowed to work with Somalia to “root out terror financing networks” enabling al-Shabaab, which has killed thousands through bombings and assaults in East Africa.
