On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on an international fundraising and money-laundering network linked to the al Shabaab militant group in Somalia.
The sanctions target 16 entities and individuals across the Horn of Africa region, the United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus.
This move, following October 2022 sanctions on a separate al Shabaab network, freezes U.S. assets of the individuals and entities involved and generally prohibits Americans from engaging with them.
Al Shabaab, recognized as a terrorist group by Washington, reportedly generates over $100 million annually, partly through extorting local businesses.
The group, affiliated with al Qaeda, has been engaged in insurgency against the Somali government since 2006, aiming to establish its rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that the threat posed by al-Shabaab extends beyond Somalia, as its revenues support al-Qa’ida-linked groups globally, contributing to al-Qa’ida’s terrorism and efforts to undermine good governance.
