(21-10-23) MOGADISHU — Somali Minister of Information Daud Aweis announced Saturday significant gains in the battle against the extremist group Al-Shabaab, stating that new, direct and financial measures have been employed to curtail the group’s activities.
In a significant step against the extremist group Al-Shabaab, the Somali government has frozen 350 bank accounts, 405 telephone accounts, and 18 business accounts, according to the Minister of Information, Daud Aweis.
In addition to financial measures, the Minister revealed that the government has taken action against extremist propaganda. “The Somali Government has shut down four radio stations affiliated with Al-Shabaab militants, deactivated several social media profiles, and removed 15,000 posts supporting violent extremism and terrorism from various social media platforms,” Aweis announced.
Aweis told reporters that Al-Shabaab’s previous use of the Port of Mogadishu to send goods through various companies, traders, and notaries has been effectively halted by security forces. “Somali Intelligence has acted swiftly to intercept the goods and dismantle the network behind these transactions,” said the Minister.
The minister confirmed the suspension of up to three companies found to be working in collusion with Al-Shabaab. “These firms are now out of operation, effectively cutting off a significant financial stream for the extremist group,” Aweis noted.
Aweis said that many of the financial networks exploited by the group, who had been masquerading as notaries, commercial companies, and brokers, have been disabled. He also mentioned that around 350 bank accounts and additional telephone and business accounts have been frozen, effectively hampering the group’s activities.
Halqabsi News
