Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) held a high-level meeting today in Mogadishu, chaired by Somalia’s Minister of Finance, H.E. Bihi Iman Egeh. The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Security, Commerce, Communications, NISA, the Financial Reporting Center, and the National Communications Authority, issued a strong warning and unveiled significant progress in disrupting terrorist financing across the country.
In an official statement, the committee declared that the Federal Government of Somalia has made substantial gains in dismantling financial networks used by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab (referred to as Khawaarij), which have long exploited citizens and businesses through extortion and illegal collections.
Between January 1 and June 30, 2025, the government implemented a national strategy targeting the financial lifelines of terrorist groups, resulting in the following actions:
- 575 mobile phone numbers used by terrorist operatives for intimidation, threats, and extortion were officially deactivated.
- 21 bank accounts linked to terror financing activities were frozen.
- 88 merchant accounts used to collect or launder extorted funds were also shut down.
- Several operatives involved in collecting extortion money from citizens and businesses were arrested and referred to the judiciary.
- Key financial operatives and network leaders within terrorist groups were identified and neutralized, severely disrupting their financial infrastructure.
- Multiple illegal checkpoints and safe houses used by the militants to collect and store money were destroyed.
The Somali government credited these successes to close collaboration with private sector businesses and public awareness campaigns encouraging citizens to reject and report extortion by terror groups.
Officials underscored that the campaign is backed by robust legal frameworks and national coordination mechanisms designed to prevent the use of the financial system for terrorism. The strategy includes detection, investigation, asset freezing, and prosecution of those involved in illicit financial activity.
The government warned that anyone found facilitating, collecting, or contributing funds or resources to terrorist groups — directly or indirectly — will face severe legal consequences. This includes individuals, businesses, or organizations that assist in any form of financing terrorism.
Reaffirming its constitutional duty to protect Somali citizens, the Federal Government of Somalia emphasized its unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism financing and ensuring the rule of law across all sectors of society.
