According to a statement from the US Department of State, Karate also known as Abdirahim Mohamed Warsame serves in the Amniyat which is the al Shabaab’s intelligence wing/FILE
According to a statement from the US Department of State, Karate also known as Abdirahim Mohamed Warsame serves in the Amniyat which is the Al Shabaab’s intelligence wing.
“Karate, played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of Al-Shabaab responsible for the recent attack on Garissa University College in Kenya that resulted in nearly 150 deaths,” it explained.
The US described the Amniyat wing as the group responsible for execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other regions.
The Amniyat wing is also responsible for providing logistical support to Al Shabaab terrorist activities.
Under similar grounds, assets of Ahmed Diriye were also frozen due to deep association including his top leadership role in the Al Shabaab group.
According to the US, Diriye became leader of Al Shabaab after the death of former leader Abdi Godane in September last year.
“He shares Godane’s vision for al Shabaab’s terrorist attacks in Somalia as an element of al-Qaeda’s greater global aspirations,” the statement said.
Diriye has also served in other positions within the Al Shabaab group including being Godane’s assistant.
“Diriye served in several positions within al Shabaab including the deputy governor of Lower Juba region in 2008, and al Shabaab Governor of Bay and Bakool regions in 2009. By 2013, he was a senior advisor of Godane and served in al-Shabaab’s Interior Department,” the US asserted.
During his service in the Interior Department of al Shabaab, Diriye was in charge of the group’s domestic activities.
“US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Diriye or Karate, or to their benefit,” the US warned.
Al Shabaab was classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and placed on the Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US on March 18, 2008.
The group is blamed for a series of attacks including the Westgate siege in 2013, Kampala, Uganda bombing in 2010 and the Garissa University College attack.
On April 8, the Government of Kenya froze bank accounts belonging to 85 companies and individuals suspected of funding terrorism.
Thirteen of them were money transfer companies which the government said were funding Al Shabaab terror groups.
READ: Kenya freezes bank accounts with suspected terrorism links
In efforts to fight terrorism, Kenya has further given amnesty to youths lured to join terror groups.
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