Somalia Cracks Down on Al-Shabaab Financing, Warns Business Community

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has warned local businesses against any dealings with Al-Shabaab, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle the militant group’s financial networks.

In a public statement issued on X, NISA cautioned that providing funds, directly or indirectly, to the group, including through its coercive tax scheme known as Zakawat, is a serious criminal offense under Somali law and will attract strict legal action.

“Financing terrorism, in any form, will not be tolerated,” the agency said, adding that it is closely tracking individuals and entities suspected of supporting Al-Shabaab’s operations.

The warning comes amid broader government efforts to sever the financial lifelines sustaining the militant group. Just a day earlier, Somalia’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee reported the closure of 575 mobile numbers, 21 bank accounts, and 88 merchant accounts tied to Al-Shabaab’s financing activities in the first half of 2025.

The crackdown marks a significant shift in Somalia’s counterterrorism strategy, targeting not just militants on the battlefield but also the hidden financial networks that fund violence and instability.

Officials are urging business owners and the wider public to report any extortion attempts or suspicious financial transactions, emphasizing that defeating terrorism requires joint vigilance and adherence to national security regulations.