Two-Kenya based individuals are among those who have been flagged by the U.S government for allegedly being part of a trans-national money laundering network for al-Shabaab, a terrorist group associated with al-Qa’ida.

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on the 16 entities and individuals who it says compose an expansive business network spanning the Horn of Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Cyprus.

Individuals within this network, OFAC says, 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.

“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,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “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.” 

The U.S says that the said individuals and entities have been involved in the raising and laundering of millions of dollars through several businesses at the direction and in the interest of al-Shabaab.

al-Shabaab ‘money launderers‘

OFAC alleges that Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known as Haleel 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. 

UAE-based Qemat Al Najah General Trading has also been implicated by OFAC, with claims that it has served as an important money laundering node in the network, and helped  manage and transfer funds for al-Shabaab in connection with Haleel Group.

Kenya-based Faysal Yusuf Dini (Dini) is an alleged al-Shabaab financial facilitator who leverages Haleel Group and some of its leadership to transfer funds on behalf of al-Shabaab.  The U.S says that he also works closely with Kenya-based Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale (Awale) to plan investment projects and money laundering activities. 

“This includes managing al-Shabaab funds laundered through investment projects and companies, including through Kenya-based Crown Bus Services.  Crown Bus Services has also supported al-Shabaab’s logistical operations,” OFAC says in a statement.

Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed, a Finland-based Somali citizen, is accused of using 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.  

UAE-based Mohamed Artan Robel has also been accused of being part of this money laundering network supporting al-Shabaab through the Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading. Abdikarin Farah Mohamed has also being sanctioned for being a Somalia-based key member of this money laundering network. 

Meanwhile, 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. 

A notable part of this network is active in Uganda. Specifically, Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi (Abdullahi), is associated with Haleel Group’s Uganda branch as its director, along with Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle (Hilowle) and Hayder.