(12-06-23) MOGADISHU — The Al-Shabaab militia has executed five individuals, alleging them to be spies for the United States and Ethiopian Intelligence. The incident unfolded in the public square of Tiyegloow district, in the Bakool region, where the men were executed before a horrified crowd.
Al-Shabaab, a jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa, is notorious for public executions, particularly of those they accuse of espionage. These acts, often performed in areas under their control, are typically targeted towards individuals they claim are working with the Federal Government of Somalia or foreign governments, including Ethiopia, Kenya, the United States, and other Western nations.
The victims, all male, have been identified:-
1- Aweys Haji Hassan Liban, 41, was alleged to be affiliated with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the South West administration. He reportedly belonged to the Borow Tukow network.
2- Abdi Wahab Omar Mubarak, also known as “Lafoole” and 21 years old, was accused of collaborating with American operatives, supposedly within Dr Ayuub’s espionage network.
3- Zakariy Yusuf Hussein, 30, was allegedly linked to the Ethiopian Intelligence Service and was thought to have been dispatched from the city of Jigjiga in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.
4- Ibrahim Hassan Mohamed, also known as “Jabir” and aged 49, was accused of working with the United States intelligence, reportedly as part of Dr Ayuub’s espionage network.
5- Mohamed Abukar Osman, 34, was alleged to have links with the intelligence agencies of the United States and Ethiopia.
This act of brutality, amidst the ongoing tensions in the region, serves as a stark reminder of the ruthless measures Al-Shabaab resorts to in order to maintain its influence and control. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, concerned about the group’s audacity to commit such acts in broad daylight.
The Federal Government of Somalia and the foreign governments accused by Al-Shabaab of espionage have yet to issue an official statement about the incident. Meanwhile, the residents of Tiyegloow district live in a climate of fear and uncertainty, never knowing when such an act of violence may happen again.
