In the estimation of Somali sources who spoke to “Sky News Arabia”, the sanctions are an important development, which joins the development of the government’s adoption of a clear policy in combating the movement (Al-Qaeda’s branch in Somalia), and the recent joining of tribes to the government in this goal.
The Somali army announced that it had regained, on Wednesday morning, full control of the villages of Warklan, Bakjih, Ghalif, Raisi, Qortiri and Jilbeli in the Middle Shabelle province, a day after it announced the killing of dozens of “Al-Shabab” militants near Shabelle and Hiran, according to the Somali News Agency. .
US sanctions
This operation, in turn, came a day after the US Treasury imposed, on Monday, sanctions on 14 “Al-Shabaab” movement, including 6 that it said were members of the network to purchase weapons, arrange financial facilities, and attract individuals.
Among the names covered by the sanctions: Abdullah Al-Jiri, Khalif Adal, Hussein Afjoy, Abdul Karim Hussein Jagal, Abdi Al-Samad, and Abdul Rahman Nouri.
It is estimated that the movement brought in money through smuggling and others at about $100 million annually.
Impressive Actions
Somali political researcher Adam Heiba described the US sanctions as impressive, especially with regard to bringing in arms and external funding, but he considered that the measures themselves do not affect domestic funding.
Heiba thus indicates that the terrorist movement reaps huge sums of money by taking royalties from farmers and companies in the places it controls.
But the researcher also noted that local sources have been declining since the tribes joined the government in the war on the movement.
The tribes, which were committed to neutrality, joined the government after being affected by the movement’s attacks against water wells and relief convoys to extort and starve the people, despite the severe drought that hit the country.
“tribal revolution”
The “tribal revolution”, which extends to all states, has become one of the most important developments threatening the “Al-Shabab movement”, which contributed to the liberation of more than 30 areas controlled by the movement for 10 years, according to “Heiba”.
The political researcher attributes this to the tribal link that contributes to guiding the population there, with strong government support for this move.
The strength of government support stems from the change in the policy of the government, which was under confused previous leaders; This gave Al-Shabab a chance to expand.
A month ago, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met in the United States with his American counterpart, demanding Washington’s support for his government and supplying it with drones, which already carried out its strongest operations only a week after the meeting.
The meeting took place days after a warning issued by the chief political adviser to the US mission to the United Nations, Jeffrey DiLaurentis, that “Al-Shabaab” is seeking to acquire drones.
Embracing drugs and terrorism
The “Al-Shabaab” movement, which emerged in 2006, taking advantage of the civil war, is not only a challenge to Somalia, but to many East African countries, especially as it has built loyalists within them.
The source of the threat is not only in terrorist attacks, but also in the movement’s exploitation of its network in these countries to act as a medium for transporting drugs between them.
For example, it receives cocaine smuggled from Latin America and Asia, transported through networks in the ports of Kismayo and Bossaso, and smuggles it back to Kenya, as the Journal of the Islamic Military Alliance to Combat Terrorism explains in a study entitled “An unholy alliance of terrorism and illegal trade in East Africa.”
#internal #revolution #Washingtons #sanctions…the #war #terrorism #Somalia #intensifying