By Frank Kamuntu
The United States Treasury has sanctioned Crown Bus Services and two Kenyans for financing the Al Shabaab militia.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Monday the sanctions would target sixteen entities red-flagged over money laundering and funding of the terrorist group.
OFAC named Kenya-based Faysal Yusuf Dini (Dini), working closely with Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale (Awale), as an al-Shabaab financial facilitator leveraging Haleel Group and some of its leadership to transfer funds on behalf of al-Shabaab.
The sixteen, OFAC said, are part of an expansive business network spanning the Horn of Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Cyprus that raises and launders funds for the al-Qa’ida-affiliated terrorist formation.
“Individuals within this network include influential businesspeople in the region that lend financial backing to al-Shabaab, a terrorist group responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks in East Africa’s modern history,” OFAC stated.
The designation of the individuals and entities under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, seeks to cut off financial flow to the terror organization.
“The United States is committed to working with regional partners to root out terror financing networks and the entities they abuse to raise and move funds,” Brian Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said.
“Today’s action is part of a multifaceted effort by Treasury to support the Somali government’s economic offensive against al-Shabaab—one of three pillars in their campaign to degrade this deadly terrorist group.”
USD 100 Million Raised Annually
OFAC also sanctioned firms based in Dubai and Uganda.
“Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known asHaleel Group,is a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab, which relies on the leaders of Haleel Group, as well as its branches and subsidiaries in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Cyprus to generate and launder funds,” the agency stated.
“Haleel Group’s subsidiaries in Cyprus include Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD; the group also has branches in Kenya (Haleel Commodities Limited) and Uganda (Haleel Commodities LTD) and operates as Haleel Electronics in Somalia.”
US Treasury’s projections put Al-Shabaab annual revenue, largely from extortion and financial support from businesspeople, at USD100 million.
The proceeds party finances other al-Qa’ida-supported groups worldwide.
Other Individuals And Entities Named Include:
1. Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known as Haleel Group, which OFAC identified as a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab.
2. UAE-based Qemat Al Najah General Trading said to help manage and transfer funds for al-Shabaab in connection with Haleel Group.
3. Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed, a Finland-based Somali citizen, uses money transfer and hawala businesses to support al-Shabaab’s money laundering operations linked to the network of Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.
4. UAE-based Mohamed Artan Robel: another member of this money laundering network supporting al-Shabaab through the Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.
5. Abdikarin Farah Mohamed: a Somalia-based key member of this money laundering network.
6. Farhan Hussein Hayder (Hayder): directs and manages Haleel Group’s branches in Kenya, Uganda, Cyprus, and the UAE, and supports al-Shabaab by generating funds for the group through these businesses.
7. Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi (Abdullahi): associated with Haleel Group’s Uganda branch as its director, along with Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle (Hilowle) and Hayder.
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