US offers $5 million for the capture of Al-Shabaab spokesperson

WASHINGTON - For the first time, the US Department of State has offered a reward for any leads that would help capture Al-Shabaab spokesperson Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage alias Dhere, a vocal senior figure in the group who issues press releases and frequent updates on the team's activities.

The rewards for the Justice team of the State Department noted that whoever gives clear leads will get up to $5 million from the US. Since 2009, Rage, also known as Ali Dheere, has been the de facto spokesperson of the group and is said to be sitting in the Supreme Council where policies and directions are issued.

Reports indicate that Rage was born in the Hawlwadag district of Mogadishu, Somalia in 1966 and has been involved in the planning of attacks in Kenya and Somalia. He usually gives updates whenever the group wages an attack anywhere across the Horn of Africa nation.

On August 6, 2021, the statement noted, 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 the 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 statement reads.

On February 18, 2022, the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee added Rage to its Sanctions List pursuant to paragraph 43[a] of resolution 2093 [2013] 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. The group, State Department said, "continues to plot, plan, and conspire to commit terrorist acts against the United States, U.S. interests, and foreign partners".

Al-Shabaab was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization [FTO] and Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2008 and two years later, the group was added to the 1844 Sanctions List by the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 1844 [2008].

All information will be kept strictly confidential. Relocation for individuals submitting information that leads to the identification or location of Rage may be possible, State Department added, noting that so far, it has released close to $250 million to over 125 people who have heeded tolls whenever such announcements are made.

GAROWE ONLINE