United States adds senior Al-Shabaab leader to list of most wanted

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The United States has added senior Al-shabaab explosive expert Abdullahi Osman Mohamed to the most wanted and issued $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Mohamed is also believed to hold other key positions within the terror group including heading the media wing Al-Kataib and serving as a special advisor to Al-shabaab top leader Ahmed Diriye.

The move is seen as a firm commitment by the United States government to collaborate with the Federal Government of Somalia in its fight against the Al-Shabaab which has continued to pose a threat to the people of Somalia and its neighboring countries.

The inclusion of Mohamed in the most wanted list is seen as a way of targeting the core operational point of the terror group so as to weaken its ability to conduct attacks and also deter its attempts to spread propaganda with the aim of attracting more recruits.

The United States’ “Reward for Justice” program which was established in 1984 has been instrumental in apprehending key terrorists and disrupting their networks.

Through monetary incentives, the program encourages individuals with knowledge of terrorist activities to come forward and provide crucial information to law enforcement agencies.