US freezes assets belonging to Al-Shabaab leaders behind Garissa University attack

LOThe US has blocked the assets belonging to two senior Al-Shabaab leaders believed to be behind the recent Garissa attack and several other attacks targeting Kenya.

The action is intended to impede funding of terrorist activities and cut off access to financial and other resources from sympathisers.

The US Department of State on Wednesday blocked all the properties of Mr Ahmed Diriye, who is the leader of terror group in Somalia, and Mr Mahad Karate of the group’s intelligence wing.

Executive Order 13224 aims at disrupting the financial support network for terrorists and terrorist organisations.

“As a result of this designation, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Diriye or Karate has any interest is blocked and any assets they may have under US jurisdiction are frozen,” read a statement from the Department of State.

The statement further read: “US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Diriye or Karate, or to their benefit.”

DETERRING DONATIONS

This means that all property and interests in the property of the terror suspects that are in the US or that come within the US jurisdiction, or that come within the possession or control of US persons are blocked.

Also blocked is the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the terrorists.

The order has the effect of deterring donations or contributions to the suspects, and heightening public awareness and knowledge of individuals or entities linked to terrorism.

Mr Diriye became the leader of Al-Shabaab following the death of the group’s former leader, Mr Ahmed Abdi Godane, in September 2014 in a US drone attack.

Prior to replacing Mr Godane, Mr Diriye served in several positions within Al-Shabaab, including being Godane’s assistant, the deputy governor of the Lower Juba region in 2008, and Al-Shabaab’s governor of Bay and Bakool regions in 2009.

By 2013, he was a senior adviser to Mr Godane, and served in Al-Shabaab’s “Interior Department,” where he oversaw the group’s domestic activity.

GLOBAL ASPIRATIONS

He shares Mr Godane’s vision for Al-Shabaab’s terrorist attacks in Somalia as an element of Al-Qaeda’s greater global aspirations.

Mr Karate, also known as Abdirahim Mohamed Warsame, played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of Al-Shabaab responsible for the recent attack on Garissa University College that resulted in 148 deaths.

The Amniyat is Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, which plays a key role in the execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other countries in the region, and provides logistics and support for Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities.

Al-Shabaab is responsible for numerous terrorist activities, including several mass-casualty attacks on civilians, like the 2010 Kampala bombing in Uganda, the 2013 Westgate attack and the recent massacre in Garissa.

The spokesperson added that the action was taken in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

Due to the pervasiveness and expansiveness of the financial foundations of foreign terrorists, the order authorises the US government to block the assets of individuals and entities that provide support, services or assistance to, or otherwise associate with, terrorists and terrorist organisations.