Al-Shabaab bomb maker slapped with life sentence in Somalia

MOGADSHU, Somalia - The military court in Somalia slapped an al-Shabaab bomb maker with a life sentence following his conviction against manufacturing Vehicle-Borne explosive devices, which the militants use to inflict deaths across the country.

The sentencing marks a broader strategy to eliminate the militants, who are linked to atrocities targeting innocent civilians, security forces, and senior government officials. The al-Shabaab controls large swathes of central and southern regions.

Abdinasir Mohamed Hassan was found guilty of assembling car bombs for the al-Shabaab militants, mainly by tampering with vehicle identification to avoid detection from sleuths. He travelled widely across Somalia to make deliveries..

Prosecutors said he had carried out these activities since 2018 while earning a monthly salary of $240 from Al-Shabaab. He was also given a NOHA vehicle and operated a garage that served as a logistical front for the group’s operations.

Throughout his reign with Al-Shabaab, he closely worked with a commander identified as Khalid, court records indicate. Military courts are used for the trial of hardcore criminals, particularly the al-Shabaab militants who control most parts of the country.

Also sentenced was Maadey Abdi Hussein, who will now spend two years in jail. He is accused of travelling to Kunya Barrow, where he repaired three vehicles before returning to Elasha Biyaha and was paid a total of $450.

His uncle, Isse Maadey Abdi Hussein, was sentenced to one year for aiding the group. However, Abdiqadir Ali Farah Tabliiq, who was accused of attempting to sell a vehicle to Al-Shabaab, was acquitted after the prosecution failed to provide evidence linking him to the network.

Besides arrests and convictions, the government troops, with the help of the US Africa Command and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), have intensified a crackdown against the group across the country, making significant gains in the process..

GAROWE ONLINE