July 28 (UPI) — The United States has imposed sanctions on a Somali individual alleged to be the financier of ISIS-Somalia, as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to disrupt the terrorist organization’s funding capabilities in Africa.
The U.S. Department of State and the Department of the Treasury jointly announced the blacklisting of Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf on Thursday. Yusuf, who the Biden administration claims has been in charge of ISIS-Somalia’s finance office since late 2019, has been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
The Biden administration asserts that ISIS-Somalia supports terrorism across Africa by extorting funds from Somali financial institutions, mobile money service providers, and local businesses. Yusuf is believed to play a significant role in managing and distributing these funds to various branches of the organization throughout the continent.
“Terrorist groups, particularly ISIS-Somalia, exploit vulnerabilities within institutions to finance their activities,” stated Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, in a press release.
“Through today’s sanctions, the United States reinforces its commitment to supporting partners, including the federal government of Somalia, in their fight against terrorist financing and in enhancing national and regional stability and security.”
Yusuf, estimated to be in his early 40s, is also accused of facilitating the transportation of foreign fighters, supplies, and ammunition for the terrorist organization. In 2022 alone, ISIS-Somalia reportedly collected $2 million through extortion payments, according to the Treasury.
The sanctions imposed freeze all of Yusuf’s assets within the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from engaging in any business transactions with him.
ISIS-Somalia primarily operates in the Golis Mountains of the Bari region in Somalia and is estimated to consist of 100 to 400 members, as reported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
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