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Africa Horn

Somalia: U.S. and six Gulf states sanction ISIS-Somalia leader and associates in South Africa and DRC over continent-wide financing network

2025-07-16

[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Somalia: U.S. and six Gulf states sanction ISIS-Somalia leader Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf and associates in South Africa and DRC over continent-wide financing network.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 15, 2025

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Africa Horn

Al-Shabaab strikes key town in central Somalia

2024-03-31

27-03-2024
[Garowe] Heavy fighting
... as opposed to the more usual name-calling or slapsy...
was reportedly in Somalia on Wednesday, multiple sources confirmed, following an al-Shabaab

...... Somalia's version of the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
raid in Harardhere town, a strategic region in the fight against the Death Eaters who are fighting to control the country.

According to sources, heavy fighting erupted in the town after the Death Eaters targeted military officers, resulting in casualties on the al-Shabaab side. Local government officers faced the Death Eaters in the early morning battle.

The fighting reportedly started after soldiers on patrol clashed with al-Shabaab fighters in Bacaadka area near Harardheere. The town was recaptured from al-Shabaab early last year, records in our possession indicate.

Since the start of Ramadan, the Death Eaters have heightened attacks across the country, leading to deaths of several officers and innocent civilians. The government has activated security forces to help restore peace and stability across Somalia.

On Tuesday, al-shabaab launched a vicious attack on government soldiers in Daaru-Nicma village in Middle Shabelle region. Tuesday's attack was at least the third time al-Shabaab fighters attacked the village since last year.

A source in the region told VOA that phone calls are not going through but they they know government troops are under attack. The Death Eaters have been on the receiving end for the last two years following activation of serious onslaught against the group.

Shabelle Media adds:

In the midst of increased operations, the Somali army and clan militia targeted Al-Shabaab militants in their stronghold in the country’s central Galmudug state.

Seven kilometers from the Harardhere district in central Somalia, in the Farah Adan area, the combined troops and Al-Shabaab rebels engaged in fierce combat.

Mohamed Yusuf, the governor of the Harardere district and a combatant himself, claimed that they killed numerous Al-Shabaab members, including foreigners, by attacking the group from multiple angles.

They were now in the locations where the battle took place, as the governor stated, adding that the fighting went on for several hours.

In the operation, some government soldiers lost their lives, according to the governor. He made the remarks after the gunfight stopped, and the the SNA and clan militia overpowered the militants.

In order to attack the Harardhere district, he claimed that the Al-Shabaab had sent additional troops to the Farah Adan Sand area. Nonetheless, he claimed that the army that was fighting morally was unable to overcome Al-Shabaab.

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Africa Horn

US gov’t announces sanctions against ISIS-Somalia head of finance Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf

2023-07-28

US GOVERNMENT announces sanctions against ISIS-Somalia head of finance Abdiweli Mohamed Yusuf. OFAC designated Yusuf as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his role in delivery of foreign fighters and ammunition on behalf of ISIS-Somalia. pic.twitter.com/XYhpAzPgVf
— Goobjoog News (@GoobjoogNews) July 27, 2023

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-Lurid Crime Tales-

Judicial Watch: New Clinton Documents Raise Questions on Benghazi, Clinton Foundation

2016-03-23

[Judicial Watch] Washington, DC -- Two days after Benghazi attack, Libyan president sought meeting with Bill Clinton through Clinton Foundation event.

Judicial Watch today released 276 pages of internal State Department documents revealing that within two days of the deadly terrorist attack on Benghazi, Mohamed Yusuf al-Magariaf, the president of Libya’s National Congress, asked to participate in a Clinton Global Initiative function and "meet President Clinton." The meeting between the Libyan president and Bill Clinton had not previously been disclosed. The documents also show Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s staff coordinated with the Clinton Foundation’s staff to have her thank Clinton Global Initiative project sponsors for their "commitments" during a Foundation speech on September 25, 2009.

The Judicial Watch documents were obtained as a result of a federal court order in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against the State Department on May 28, 2013, (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:13-cv-00772)).

In September 13, 2012, al-Magariaf advisor Dr. Fathi Nuah wrote to the Clinton Foundation’s Director of Foreign Policy Amitabh Desai: "Dr. Almagariaf will be addressing the United Nations this September in New York as the Libyan Head of State, and he expressed a wish to meet President Clinton and to participate at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting for New York as well."

Four hours later, Desai emailed Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills asking, "Would USG [U.S. Government] have concerns about Libyan President being invited to CGI [Clinton Global Initiative]? Odd timing, I know." Mills emailed back: "We would not have issues."

Four days later, on September 17, Desai emailed Mills again, saying, The Libyan president is "asking for a meeting with WJC [William Jefferson Clinton] next week." Desai asked, "Would you recommend accepting or declining the WJC meeting request?"
No, no problem at all. Our team has constructed a clever diversion using an anti-Mohammed filmmaker by the name of Nakoula. You'll be learning more about him in the Sunday Talks. We're hoping to delay any in-country investigation of the events in Benghazi. Our damage control people are quite adept. The blow-back should be minimal.
The State Department apparently had no objection to the meeting, because on September 26, Desai emailed Mills, "He had a v good meeting with Libya ..." Hillary Clinton and al-Magariaf did not have a meeting until September 24.

An August 2009 email chain including Hillary Clinton’s then- Chief of Staff Huma Abedin, Mills, then-Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Jake Sullivan shows that the State Department coordinated with Clinton Foundation staff on how Mrs. Clinton to thank Foundation supporters/partners for their "commitments." Mills asks Desai for a "list of commitments during whole session so she can reference more than those just around her speech."

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Africa Horn

Somalia: Islamic Scholars move to preach against Shia doctrine

2015-09-20

GAROWE, Somalia -- Islamic Scholars in Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland have condemned Shiite books allegedly loaded from Iran which tries to gain foothold in the Horn of African nation, Garowe Online reports.

See? They know who their real enemies are. And if they don't, the sheiks in Arabia are more than happy to explain to them in lieu of the next bundle of banknotes...

Well-known clerics said that spreading of Shia Islam in Somalia is threat to social cohesion and could stir unrest if it is not confronted in early stage in a letter sent to Garowe Online News Agency on Friday.

The concerns come as Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation is trying to open ~~armories~~ study centers, especially Qur’an schools and ~~weapons depots~~ mosques in the overwhelmingly Sunni country.

Just what the Somalis need of course: not food or medicine but more preachifying...

The Islamic scholars called on the public to remain vigilant against the dangers of Shia Islam, asking national government and federal states to ban Shiite books encouraging racist religious ideologies. Books spotted in Somalia’s Puntland were largely authored by controversial cleric, Abdullahi Mohamed Yusuf (Al Harari), Sunni scholars said.

Iranian diplomats and Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation officials met with Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali during a secret stay in August.

Iran has been seeking to step up its involvement since late 2012 when Shiite power announced the opening of embassy in Mogadishu.

If Iran can't have Yemen, Puntland will do...

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Africa Horn

Shaboobs mark first day of Ramadan with botched attack

2015-06-19

The headline alone is worth the posting...

ADADO, Somalia -- As Somalis are observing the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, Ramadan, coordinated terror attack by Al Shabaab gunmen on a building housing delegates Thursday ended in failure in central town, Garowe Online reports.

Militants in military fatigues tried to ram an explosive-laden car into the building, but the plot went wrong according to a spokesman for Somalia’s Ministry for National Security, Mohamed Yusuf.

Security forces manning an entrance to the residence, and were appearing to have received a tip-off shot three militants on the spot. The attackers were reportedly planning to shoot their way into the house of Adado conference delegates.

“No casualties have been resulted in except for the assailants. The security forces foiled, they were four people in number, one blew himself up in the car and the three other [attackers] were shot dead by the security forces,” the official told the Media.

Al Shabaab immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they killed Ethiopian soldiers at a security checkpoint near Kafalo building. GO couldn’t reach independence sources in Adado for exact number of fatalities from the botched attack.

Al Shabaab is known for staging a string of deadly assaults in the holy month of Ramadan every year.

It's like it's part of their religion or something...

Residents in Mogadishu broke fast to volleys of gunfire and scramble for cover last year.

In an attempt at curbed rampages, Somalia government deployed hundreds of police officers into the streets of war-torn Mogadishu on the eve of dawn-to-dusk fasting month of Ramadan.

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Africa Horn

Somalia army launched an operation in Mogadishu

2015-06-15

Mogadishu -- Huge operation has been launched by Somalia security forces in Holwadag district in Mogadishu in a bid to thwart Al Shabab fighters’ attempts, internal security ministry said.

Somalia’s internal security ministry spokesman, Mohamed Yusuf told journalists that security details had arrested dozens of people on suspicion of Al Shabab militants in an operation in Mogadishu.

Somalia security forces carried out similar operations which were meant to ensure the overall security of Mogadishu.

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Africa Horn

Somali soldiers killed MP Yusuf, says security Ministry

2015-05-25

Follow-up on this story from yesterday, when it was not yet known who dunnit.

[Shabelle] A lawmaker Yusuf Mohamed was reported to have been killed and another was injured by government forces on Maka Al Mukarama road in Mogadishu, security ministry spokesman said.

Somalia’s security ministry spokesman, Mohamed Yusuf told journalists that government soldiers sprayed fire on a car carrying 2 parliamentarians in Mogadishu, killing MP and injured another.

Mr. Mohamed denied that Al Shabaab militants carried out the assault in which killed legislator Yusuf Mohamed, describing Al Shabab claims as “absurd one”.

He stressed that Somalia National Intelligence and security agency forces injured at least 6 military troops who were accused of being behind the attack on the MPs in Mogadishu.

The incident was not targeted to the lawmakers but a committee has been appointed to investigate how the attack happened, according to security ministry spokesman, Mr. Yusuf.

The ministry’s word comes a day after Al Shabaab militants claimed to have killed Somalia MP and injured another one in a drive by shooting in Mogadishu.

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Africa Horn

US drone strike kills Westgate attack planner, officials say

2015-03-14

[IsraelTimes] Al-Shabaab
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
man allegedly responsible for plotting death of 67 in Kenya mall believed dead

A US drone strike in Somalia on Thursday is believed to have killed a senior member of the al-Shabaab Lion of Islam group who allegedly helped plan the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, officials said.

Adan Garar and two others are suspected to have been killed after their car was targeted near the town of Bardhere, the Kenyan and US officials said.

The senior Kenyan official, who insisted on anonymity because he wasn't authorized to give the information to the media, says Garar is also suspected of planning failed attacks on Kenya's coast and in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, last year. The US official also insisted on anonymity.

Anti-terror police foiled a planned attack in the coastal city of Mombasa after they intercepted an exploding car in March 2014, according to Kenyan authorities. According to police, al-Shabaab bully boyz had planned simultaneous attacks on the international airport in Mombasa, the ferry crossing and a supermarket. The car laden with explosives was to be detonated on a ferry.

Al-Shabaab, an Islamic Lion of Islam group, has vowed to inflict violent attacks on Kenya and Uganda because the two countries have contributed troops to the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
force supporting the government in Somalia.

Sixty-seven people were killed in the Westgate attack, which was carried out by four gunnies from al-Shabaab.

An Nahar adds:

The U.S. military has carried out an air strike against a senior al-Shabaab

... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
bully boy in Somalia and is still reviewing the results of the operation, the Pentagon said Friday.

The operation, which did not involve U.S. troops on the ground, took place on Thursday on a road south of Mogadishu and focused on "a high-value target," front man Colonel Steven Warren

...a proud member of the Army of Steve...

told news hounds.

"This operation was conducted against the al-Shabaab network," Warren said. "We are currently assessing the results of this operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate."

An armed drone carried out the strike, a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

The Pentagon declined to comment on reports, citing Kenyan officials, that the strike targeted a Shabaab figure who orchestrated the 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi, which left 67 people dead.

Make of that what you will, dear Reader.

Update at 11:15 ET from Garowe Online:

U.S. officials said privately that the target of the drone strike was Adan Garar, a planner of the 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi. One official said the U.S. is 90% certain that Mr. Garar was killed in the attack but said the information hasn't yet been confirmed.

A spokesman for Somalia’s national security and intelligence ministry, Mohamed Yusuf, said Mr. Garaar had just taken over intelligence oversight for al-Shabaab from Abdishakur Tahlil, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in December.

Time to put out the 'help wanted' ad again on CraigsList...

The U.S. has targeted several al-Shabaab leaders who were suspected to be involved in the attack, including a September 2014 drone strike that killed the al-Shabaab commander known as Ahmed Abdi Godane.

Col. Warren said the latest strike occurred on a road west of Dinsoor and south of Mogadishu. Kenyan officials have said the strike occurred near the town of Bardhere, according to press reports. Bardhere is east of Dinsoor.

Fog of war?

U.S. officials said the operation was carried out by a drone armed with Hellfire missiles.

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Africa Horn

Mudug Deputy Governor targeted in landmine attack

2014-12-22

GALKAYO, Somalia -- The Deputy Governor of Mudug region in central Somalia has been targeted in landmine attack according to security officials on Sunday morning, Garowe Online reports. Farhan Ali Hirsi is being treated at Galkayo General Hospital after he sustained minor injuries to lower part of his body, medics say.

Puntland security officials say, remote control has detonated the landmine as Hirsi was driving near a police compound in vast north. Search operations are underway following the thunderous explosion, with sources disclosing that a bodyguard was also wounded along with Mudug Deputy Governor.

Nobody claimed credit for the attack but as has been the case, Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group targets government officials in terror operations.

Galkayo straddles the border between Somalia’s stable Puntland and south-central regions where security situation is extremely volatile.

Mudug Governor Mohamed Yusuf Jama Tigey and the wounded Hirsi survived suicide bombings in 2011.

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Africa Horn

Security forces dismantle three terror cells

2014-12-04

MOGADISHU -- Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency has announced that units from police and intelligence service dismantled three terror cells amid deadly Al Shabaab rampage, Garowe Online reports.

A Spokesman for Ministry of National Security unveiled the destruction of terror networks shortly after Intelligence Boss Abdirahman Mohamed Tuuryare presided over a security meeting on the progress being made over the course of intense operations in Mogadishu in the presence of African Union Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou.

"The meeting was aimed at presenting the dismantlement of three terror cells during the first phase of joint security sweeps," said Mohamed Yusuf Osman, National Security Ministry spokesman. "Among the three cells were assassination plots by Al Shabaab’s Amniyat, planned drive-by shootings and anchorages meant for preparation of suicide attacks".
The security commanders-level meeting follows weeks of anti-terror sweeps in volatile Mogadishu where beleaguered Al Shabaab militants target government officials and foreigners.

Weapons cache and scores of people suspected of being terrorists were netted in a series of operations.

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Africa Horn

Somalia, AU battle with warlord's militia in Mogadishu

2014-08-16

Heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu on Friday as Somali government and African Union troops battled a powerful militia warlord in a bid to disarm him, security officials said, reporting a number of casualties.

"Government forces and African troops are conducting security operations in Mogadishu, and this morning militiamen confronted them," government security official Mohamed Yusuf said.

Bursts of gunfire and heavy explosions were reported before dawn, with witnesses reporting at least five dead. Rocket-propelled grenades were fired by both sides, witnesses said.

Somalia's government launched a disarmament campaign earlier this month, with troops backed by the AU mission in Somalia (Amisom) on Friday fighting to seize weapons from militia leader Ahmed Dai.

Government troops said they had taken control after several hours of fierce battle.

"Forces are continuing with their operations," Mr Yusuf said, saying that while there were casualties, he was unable to confirm details.

But militia commander Dai told reporters the only guns he had were for "self-defence."

"Amisom and security forces raided my house early this morning and we defended ourselves," Mr Dai said, saying several people had died, but without giving a precise toll.

"If they are claiming the operation is aimed for disarmament, then I have got no weapons, except a few for self-defence purposes," he said.

Mr Dai is based in the capital's Madina district, a neighbourhood close to the heavily defended airport zonet, the headquarters of the 22,000-strong AU force. Mr Dai's militia opened fire and a "firefight ensued," Amisom said, adding that the "militia was overpowered and 20 were arrested".

Mr Dai himself was not captured.

Almost as if he skadaddled at the very beginning...

The clashes come just two days after UN Security Council envoys briefly visited a fortified zone within the dangerous capital, where they promised to support the first elections in decades, scheduled for 2016.

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