Al-Shabaab financial operative captured in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A senior Al-Shabaab operative was captured in Somalia, in a dramatic move that could lead to hints about the financiers of the militants who have been helping the group run its operations and logistics without many problems.

In an operation conducted within Buur Hakaba District of the Bay region in the Southwest, the government forces managed to capture Aliyow Isaaq Moalim who is believed to be the major financial operative within the militants in the country.

The operation was narrowed down to Buur-Helede village in the Bay region following a tip from members of the public who have been the target of extortion by the militants. He was caught issuing vehicle permits — a money-minting business by the Al-Shabaab.

Mohamed Hassan Adan alias Sandheere, the commander of the operation, said the move significantly weakens the al-Shabaab in the Bay region where the group has been terrorizing innocent civilians and security forces.

"Disrupting their financial network is a decisive step toward eradicating their influence," he said, emphasizing the broader implications of targeting the group's economic lifeline.

For sustainability, the group imposes taxes on business owners and travelers to finance its operations. A report by the United Nations indicates that the group can raise up to $130 million in a financial year from extortion mainly through Zakat.

Southwest State officials hailed the operation as a victory in the ongoing campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab's infrastructure. "Capturing such a high-ranking financial officer cripples their ability to sustain operations in this region," read an official statement

The Al-Shabab militants have lost significantly on the battlefield following an operation mounted by the Somali National Army and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops. The operation is still active in central and southern regions..

GAROWE ONLINE