A leading Kenyan bus company is among 16 entities and individuals that have been sanctioned by the United States over their support for the militant group al Shabaab.
The US said other than money laundering, the Crown Bus company has also supported al-Shabaab’s logistical operations.
In a statement on Monday, March 11, the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the 16 consist of a transnational network that spans the Horn of Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus.
He said the entities and individuals facilitate financing and money laundering for the al Shabaab terrorist organization.
“The threat posed by al-Shabaab is not limited to Somalia. Al-Shabaab’s revenues are disbursed to other al-Qa’ida-linked groups worldwide and help fund al-Qa’ida’s global ambitions to commit acts of terrorism and undermine good governance.
“Today’s action reflects the United States’ counterterrorism priorities in Somalia and supports the dynamic relationship we have established with the Somali government to counter the terrorist threats endangering the Somali people and undermining their communities,” Miller said.
He said individuals within this network include influential businesspeople in the region who lend financial backing to al-Shabaab, a terrorist group responsible for some of the worst terrorist attacks in East Africa’s modern history.
These attacks have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians.
These individuals and entities are being designated under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their enablers.
He reaffirmed the United State’s commitment to disrupt al-Qa’i’da’s access to the international financial system.
According to the US State Department for Treasury, al-Shabaab generates over $100 million per year by extorting local businesses and individuals, as well as through the financial support of affiliated businesspeople.
It said individuals and entities sanctioned have been involved in raising and laundering millions of dollars through several businesses at the direction and in the interest of al-Shabaab.
“This action continues Treasury’s efforts to disrupt al-Shabaab’s abuse of the regional financial system and builds on OFAC’s October 2022 designation of a network of al-Shabaab financial facilitators who served as key interlocutors between al-Shabaab and local businesses in Somalia,” the US Treasury said.
This is part of the statement with the sanctioned entities.
“The network of individuals and entities designated today have been involved in the raising and laundering of millions of dollars through several businesses at the direction and in the interest of al-Shabaab.
Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known as Haleel Group, is a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab, which relies on the leaders of Haleel Group, as well as its branches and subsidiaries in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Cyprus to generate and launder funds.
Haleel Group’s subsidiaries in Cyprus include Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD; the group also has branches in Kenya (Haleel Commodities Limited) and Uganda (Haleel Commodities LTD) and operates as Haleel Electronics in Somalia.
UAE-based Qemat Al Najah General Trading has served as an important money laundering node in the network and helped manage and transfer funds for al-Shabaab in connection with Haleel Group.
Kenya-based Faysal Yusuf Dini (Dini) is an al-Shabaab financial facilitator who leverages Haleel Group and some of its leadership to transfer funds on behalf of al-Shabaab.
He also works closely with Kenya-based Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale (Awale) to plan investment projects and money laundering activities.
This includes managing al-Shabaab funds laundered through investment projects and companies, including through Kenya-based Crown Bus Services. Crown Bus Services has also supported al-Shabaab’s logistical operations.
Hassan Abdirahman Mohamed, a Finland-based Somali citizen, uses money transfer and hawala businesses to support al-Shabaab’s money laundering operations linked to the network of Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.
UAE-based Mohamed Artan Robel is another member of this money laundering network supporting al-Shabaab through the Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.
Abdikarin Farah Mohamed is a Somalia-based key member of this money laundering network.
Farhan Hussein Hayder (Hayder) directs and manages Haleel Group’s branches in Kenya, Uganda, Cyprus, and the UAE, and supports al-Shabaab by generating funds for the group through these businesses.
A notable part of this network is active in Uganda. Specifically, Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi (Abdullahi), is associated with Haleel Group’s Uganda branch as its director, along with Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle (Hilowle) and Hayder.
In his role, Abdullahi has managed and transferred funds for al-Shabaab.
Farhan Hussein Hayder, Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale, Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi, and Qemat Al Najah General Trading are being designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, al-Shabaab, a person whose property is an interest in property are blocked under E.O. 13224.
Faysal Yusuf Dini, Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle, Abdikarin Farah Mohamed, and Mohamed Artan Robel are being designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Shabaab, a person whose property and interest in property are blocked under E.O. 13224.
Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed is being designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Haleel Commodities L.L.C., a person whose property and interest in property are blocked according to E.O. 13224, as amended.
UAE-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C. is being designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Shabaab, a person whose property and interest in property are blocked according to E.O. 13224.
Cyprus-based Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD are being designated under E.O. 13244, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Haleel Commodities L.L.C., a person whose property and interest in property are proposed to be blacked under E.O. 13224, as amended.
Kenya-based Haleel Commodities Limited and Crown Bus Services are being designated under E.O. 13244, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale, a person whose property and interest in property are proposed to be blacked under E.O. 13224, as amended.
Uganda-based Haleel Commodities LTD is being designated under E.O. 13244, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Farhan Hussein Hayder, a person whose property and interest in property are proposed to be blacked under E.O. 13224, as amended.”
