(05-06-23) MOGADISHU — A well-coordinated operation carried out by the elite Somali DANAB forces, a high-ranking member of the militant group, Al-Shabaab, has been eliminated in Beer-Hani near the city of Kismayo in Jubbaland. According to state media, on Monday, the operation targeted a leader named Muumin Dheere, who was notably on the wanted list of both the Somali government and the United States.
Muumin Dheere held a significant role within Al-Shabaab, overseeing the group’s militant activities in the Juba region. The termination of Dheere strikes a substantial blow to the organisation, which continues to pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region.
Dheere had been targeted last month by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), alongside 25 other individuals and entities, for his connection to Al-Shabaab. He was identified as a financial facilitator, involved in a variety of illicit activities in support of Al-Shabaab. These activities, which included the proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and illegal charcoal smuggling, have exacerbated local conflicts and contributed to the suffering of the Somali people.
Dheere, as the deputy emir of Wayanta, Lower Juba, had coordinated retaliatory attacks for Al-Shabaab against Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) security forces, utilising explosive devices (VBIEDs) and mortars. Moreover, he was reportedly plotting an attack on Kismayo International Airport.
The operation near Kismayo also resulted in the deaths of other militant leaders and armed militia members, who were reportedly preparing to conduct attacks against the Somali community. Furthermore, the DANAB forces successfully captured several vehicles and surviving militiamen, providing potentially valuable intelligence for future operations against Al-Shabaab.
Following the operation, the armed forces have pursued residual Al-Shabaab members, reportedly hiding in local caves and trees. These subsequent operations aim to further dismantle the group’s network and prevent any potential retaliatory plots against the Somali citizens.
