US Award: The head of the “Al-Shabaab” leaders is worth 10 million dollars

14th November 2022

1 minute read

Somali security forces stand guard amid rubble outside the Syl Hotel near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, on July 14, 2018, after two car bombs were detonated and three Shabaab gunmen were shot dead after exchanging fire with security forces. (Photo by Mohamed ABDIWAHAB / AFP)

The United States has increased its reward for information on Somali al-Shabaab leaders to $10 million for each leader.

The U.S. move follows a series of recent deadly attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab terrorist group in various parts of Somalia.

Dozens killed in al-Shabaab attack in central Somalia

In a statement, the US State Department said that this is the first time that a reward of up to $10 million has been offered for information.

But the information sought, priced at $10 million, should “disrupt the financial mechanisms” of the al-Qaeda-linked movement, or access its leadership.

“More recently, Al-Shabaab militants have stepped up attacks in the Somali capital and across the country in response to a large-scale offensive by government forces.”

The generous U.S. rewards also include information leading to the identification of Al-Shabaab’s “emir”, Ahmed Omar Diri, known as “Abu Ubaidah,” and his two deputies, Mahdi Karateh and Jihad Mustafa. The latter is an American citizen who Washington says plays several roles in the movement.

The US State Department designated al-Shabaab a terrorist organization in March 2008.

Earlier today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, announced that more than 600 civilians were killed this year in attacks launched by the movement in Somalia.