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5/12/2020 Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Press Center Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia 7/5/2012 Action Targets al-Shabaab Supporters Based in Somalia and Kenya as Well as Eritrean Officials WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated six individuals pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13536, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Somalia.” The individuals targeted today include Col. Tewolde Negash and Col. Taeme Goitom, two Eritrean government officials; Suhayl Salim Muhammad `Abd-el-Rahman (aka Abu-Faris), a Sudanese al-Shabaab foreign fighter facilitator; and Abubaker Shariff Ahmed, Omar Awadh Omar and Aboud Rogo Mohammed who are three Kenyan al-Shabaab supporters. The President issued E.O. 13536 in April 2010 to target individuals and entities engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia. Al-Shabaab was listed in the annex of E.O. 13536. It was also previously identified in February 2008 by the State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, the U.S. government’s terrorism sanctions authority. Previous designations under E.O. 13536 have included members of al-Shabaab, a member of the Eritrean government, and pirates that operate in Somalia and neighboring countries throughout the region. Today’s designations of individuals based in Somalia, Kenya and Eritrea highlight the regional nature of the conflict in Somalia. “The United States is determined to target those who are responsible for the ongoing bloodshed and instability in Somalia,” said Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Director Adam J. Szubin. “By designating these individuals today we are taking action to support our partner governments in East Africa and the African Union Mission in Somalia in their efforts to dismantle al-Shabaab.” Col. Tewolde Habte Negash Eritrean Intelligence Officer Col. Tewolde Habte Negash funnels money to anti-Transitional Federal Government (“TFG”) groups in Somalia, including al-Shabaab. Col. Negash was the principal architect of the Government of Eritrea’s relationship with al-Shabaab in Mogadishu in 2006 and he has been the principal coordinator of financial and logistical support to a number of armed groups, including al-Shabaab, since 2004. He has remained actively involved in Eritrean training of and support to foreign armed opposition groups since December 2009 and is reported to have traveled over land from Uganda, through Kenya, and on to Somalia in September 2009 where he met with members of al-Shabaab and other armed groups. Col. Negash reportedly spent considerable time in Mogadishu for a period beginning in 2006 coordinating support to armed groups, including al-Shabaab. He reportedly provided explosives training to another armed group in Mogadishu in 2006 and he appears to have been indirectly involved in the training of al-Shabaab fighters between 2007 and 2009 at an Eritrean training camp for instruction in suicide bombing and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. Col. Taeme Abraham Goitom According to a March 2010 report issued by the UN Security Council Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee’s Monitoring Group, officials of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (“ARS”) described Col. Goitom as a senior government official who played a direct role in decisions concerning key ARS appointments. The Asmara wing of the ARS was a component of the former rebel group Hizbul Islam, which joined al-Shabaab in December 2010. Under Hizbul Islam, ARS-Asmara established a serious military threat against the TFG and the African Union Mission in Somalia (“AMISOM”) forces. The Asmara wing of the ARS publicly rejected the election of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and mounted sustained operations against TFG and AMISOM forces. Col. Goitom has also been reported to be an important arms trafficker in the region with clients such as the insurgents in Somalia. Suhayl Salim Abd-El-Rahman aka Abu-Faris Abu-Faris is a Somalia-based Sudanese extremist who works on behalf of al-Shabaab facilitating the travel of foreign fighters to an alShabaab training camp in Somalia. Abu-Faris also facilitates financial assistance for foreign extremists in Somalia. https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1630.aspx 1/5 5/12/2020 Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia Since 2007, Abu-Faris has acted as a facilitator for the entry of foreign fighters and extremists into Somalia and has advised them when travel to Somalia is possible. In 2009, Abu-Faris facilitated the travel of foreign fighters to an al-Shabaab training camp outside Kismaayo. In 2010, Abu-Faris facilitated the travel of extremists from Chad to Somalia. Abu- Faris coordinated the travel of such persons to Somalia via Nairobi. Aboud Rogo Mohammed Kenya-based extremist Islamic cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed has engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia and provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support to al-Shabaab. Specifically, Aboud Rogo Mohammed’s activities include fund-raising for al-Shabaab. He continues to exert influence over extremist groups in East Africa as part of his campaign to promote violence throughout East Africa. As an ideological leader, Aboud Rogo Mohammed has used an extremist group as a pathway for radicalization and recruitment of principally Swahili-speaking Africans for "action" in Somalia. In a series of inspirational lectures between February 2009 and February 2012, Aboud Rogo repeatedly called for the violent rejection of the Somali peace process. During these lectures, Aboud Rogo Mohammed repeatedly called for the use of violence against both the United Nations and AMISOM forces in Somalia, and urged his audiences to travel to Somalia to join al-Shabaab's fight against the Kenyan Government. Aboud Rogo Mohammed also offers guidance on how Kenyan recruits joining al-Shabaab can evade detection by the Kenyan authorities, and which routes to follow when traveling from Mombasa, Kenya, and/or Lamu to al-Shabaab strongholds in Somalia, notably Kismaayo. He has facilitated the travel to Somalia of numerous Kenyan recruits for al-Shabaab. In September 2008, Aboud Rogo Mohammed held a fundraising meeting in Mombasa to help finance al-Shabaab activities in Somalia. In September 2011, Aboud Rogo Mohammed was recruiting individuals in Mombasa for travel into Somalia, presumably to conduct terrorist operations. Omar Awadh Omar Kenyan national Omar Awadh Omar (“Omar”) has provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for al-Shabaab. Omar has facilitated funding to al-Shabaab and is believed to have facilitated the movement of foreign fighters and supplies into Somalia. Omar was also allegedly involved in planning the July 11, 2010 attack against fans watching a World Cup match in Kampala, Uganda. He is currently incarcerated in Uganda awaiting trial. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for this attack, which killed 74 people. Abubaker Shariff Ahmed aka Makaburi Kenya-based Abubaker Shariff Ahmed is a leading facilitator and recruiter of young Kenyan Muslims for “action” in Somalia, and a close associate of Aboud Rogo Mohammed. He provides material support to extremist groups in Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa. Through his frequent trips to al-Shabaab strongholds in Somalia, including Kismaayo, he has been able to maintain strong ties with senior alShabaab members. Abubaker Shariff Ahmed is also engaged in the mobilization and management of funding for al-Shabaab. Abubaker Shariff Ahmed has preached at mosques in Mombasa that young men should travel to Somalia, commit extremist acts, fight for al-Qa’ida, and kill U.S. citizens. Abubaker Shariff Ahmed was arrested in late December 2010 by Kenyan authorities on suspicion of involvement in the bombing of a Nairobi bus terminal. Abubaker Shariff Ahmed is also a leader of a Kenya-based youth organization in Mombasa with ties to al-Shabaab. As of 2010, Abubaker Shariff Ahmed acted as recruiter and facilitator for al-Shabaab in the Majengo area of Mombasa. Identifying Information Tewolde Habte Negash AKA: Abdirahim Muse AKA: Tewaled Holde Nagesh AKA: Senay Beraki Meharen AKA: Amanuel Kidane AKA: Tewold Habte Negash AKA: Tewelde Habte Negash AKA: Bitewelde Habte Negash AKA: Tewaled Holde Nagash AKA: Wedi AKA: Desta https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1630.aspx 2/5 5/12/2020 Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia AKA: Abdirahman Musa AKA: Abdirahman Muse AKA: Emanuel Negash AKA: Abdirahim Musa AKA: Ole Negash DOB: 5 September 1960 POB: Asmara, Eritrea Passport: Diplomatic Passport No. D0001060 Passport: Diplomatic Passport No. D000080 Nationality: Eritrean Position: Intelligence Officer Taeme Abraham Goitom AKA: Ta’ame Abraham Selassie AKA: Abraham Selassie Ta’ame AKA: Te'ame Abraham Selassie AKA: Te’ame Goitom AKA: Tesfalen AKA: Tsegai AKA: Dha'ame AKA: Teame AKA: Ta’ame AKA: Gaamei AKA: Da'ame AKA: Simon Gebredengel AKA: Te’ame Abraha Selassie AKA: Mekele AKA: Mekelle AKA: Meqele DOB: 1957 Alt. DOB: 1956 POB: Akale Guzay (Shemejena) Passport No.: Laissez-Passer 02154 Position: Head of Eritrean External Intelligence Operation Title/Rank: Colonel Alt. Title/Rank: Brigadier General https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1630.aspx 3/5 5/12/2020 Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia Suhayl Salim Abd-El-Rahman AKA: Abu Faris al-Sudani AKA: Abu-Faris AKA: Haytham Zayn AKA: Suhayl Abdurahaman AKA: Sahib Muhammad AKA: Suhayl Salim Abd El-Rahman AKA: Zain Ul-Abideen AKA: Sundus AKA: Saba AKA: Sana AKA: Suhayl Salim POB: Rabak, Sudan DOB: 17 June 1984 Alt. DOB: 1990 Passport #: C0004350 Personal ID #: A00710804 Aboud Rogo Mohammed AKA: Aboud Mohammad Rogo AKA: Aboud Seif Rogo AKA: Aboud Mohammed Rogo AKA: Sheikh Aboud Rogo AKA: Aboud Rogo Muhammad AKA: Aboud Rogo Mohamed DOB #1: 11 November 1960 Alternate DOB: 11 November 1967 Alternate DOB: 11 November 1969 Alternate DOB: 1 January 1969 POB: Kenya Alternate POB: Lamu Island, Kenya Citizenship: Kenya Omar Awadh Omar AKA: Omar Sahal https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1630.aspx 4/5 5/12/2020 Treasury Targets Regional Actors Fueling Violence and Instability in Somalia AKA: Omar Awadh DOB: 20 September 1973 POB: Mombasa, Kenya Passport: Kenya #A764712, Expires 27 March 2013 Alt. Passport: Kenya #B002271 Alt. Passport: East Africa #KE007776, Expires August 2009 Location: Kenya Abubaker Sharrif Ahmed AKA: Makaburi AKA: Sheikh Abubakar Ahmed AKA: Abubaker Shariff Ahmed AKA: Abu Makaburi Shariff AKA: Abubaker Shariff AKA: Abubakar Ahmed DOB: 1962 DOB #2: 1967 POB: Kenya Citizenship: Kenya Alt. Address: Majengo area, Mombasa, Kenya ### https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1630.aspx 5/5
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