Somalia: Al-Shabab chief finance controller killed in ambush

Image

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The African Union force in Somalia says it has killed a "chief finance controller" for the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab extremist group.

The AU force in a series of tweets on Thursday says the commander, the head of the tax collection in Lower Shabelle region, was killed after an ambush on Monday on an al-Shabaab meeting in Bariire area, about 60 kilometres south of Mogadishu.

The extremists bring in funding by taxing the communities they control.

The AU force says another seven al-Shabaab fighters were killed on Sunday when their attack on a forward operating base was "botched."

The multinational force in the coming years is expected to draw down and hand over responsibility for Somalia's security to the country's military.

Al-Shabaab holds rural parts of southern and central Somalia and continues to target the capital with high-profile attacks.

Related Articles

Somalia's President fails to unite federal leaders as key states boycott national talks  

The talks, first scheduled for May 2, 2025, and later May 5th, 2025, failed to kick off due to disagreements amongst the proponents.

  • Somalia

    07-05-2025

  • 11:16AM

Somalia: Much-Delayed NCC Opens with No Attendance from Puntland, Jubaland

The formation of the new party is seen as an attempt to address these challenges and secure political backing for the next election cycle.

  • Somalia

    06-05-2025

  • 01:59PM