The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program is offering rewards for information leading to six key leaders of the Somalia-based terrorist organization al-Shabaab. The U.S. Secretary of State has authorized rewards of up to $6 million for information on the whereabouts of Abu Ubaidah Direye, up to $5 million each for information on Mahad Karate, Ma’alim Daud, and Hassan Afgooye, and up to $3 million each for information on Maalim Salman and Ahmed Iman Ali.
Since 2006, al-Shabaab has killed thousands of civilians, aid workers, and peacekeepers in Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the July 11, 2010, suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, which killed more than 70 people, including one American citizen. Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for the September 21-24, 2013, terrorist attack against the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, which left more than 60 people dead and nearly 200 wounded and the April 2 attack on Garissa University College in Kenya, which resulted in 150 deaths.
The U.S. Secretary of State designated al-Shabaab a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 18, 2008. In February 2012, al-Shabaab and the al-Qaida terrorist network jointly announced they had formed an alliance.
Abu Ubaidah, also known as Direye, was named the leader of al-Shabaab on September 6, 2014, after the death of former al-Shabaab emir Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed, otherwise known as Godane.
Mahad Karate, also known as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, has played a key role in al-Shabaab’s assassination operations and the April 2 attack on Garissa University College.
Ma’alim Daud is responsible for al-Shabaab’s planning, recruitment, training, and operations against the government of Somalia and Western targets.
Hassan Afgooye oversees al-Shabaab’s financial activities ranging from fake charities, and fundraising to racketeering and kidnapping.
Maalim Salman leads al-Shabaab’s African foreign terrorist fighters and has been involved in attacks attains tourists, entertainment establishments, and churches in Africa.
Ahmed Iman Ali has recruited Kenyan youth and raised funds for al-Shabaab.
Anyone with information on these terrorist leaders should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy, or the Rewards for Justice office via the website at www dot rewardsforjustice dot net or by e-mail at info@rewardsforjustice dot net. Individuals in North America can call this phone number: 1-800-877-3927.
