WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMS DEATH OF THE LEADER OF AL-SHABAAB

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Death of Ahmed Godane

Today, the Department of Defense confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the leader of al-Shabaab, is dead as a result of a U.S. military targeted airstrike in Somalia undertaken over the weekend.  Godane’s removal is a major symbolic and operational loss to the largest al-Qaida affiliate in Africa and reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals. Even as this is an important step forward in the fight against al-Shabaab, the United States will continue to use the tools at our disposal – financial, diplomatic, intelligence and military –to address the threat that al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups pose to the United States and the American people. We will also continue to support our international partners, particularly the African Union Mission in Somalia, that are working to support the Federal Government of Somalia build a secure and stable future for the Somali people.

The U.S. Department of State named al-Shabaab a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended) on February 26, 2008, and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under Executive Order 13224 on February 29, 2008.

In September 2013, Godane publicly claimed al-Shabaab was responsible for the Westgate Mall attack, which killed and injured dozens in Nairobi, Kenya, calling the attack “revenge” for Kenyan and Western involvement in Somalia and highlighting its proximity to the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001.  Under his leadership, the group has claimed responsibility for many bombings—including various types of suicide attacks—in Mogadishu and in central and northern Somalia, typically targeting officials and perceived allies of the Somali Government as well as the former Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia. Godane has also continued to oversee plots targeting Westerners, including U.S. persons, in East Africa.  In recent months, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Djibouti that killed a Turkish national and wounded several Western soldiers as well a car bomb at the Mogadishu airport that targeted and killed members of a United Nations convoy.   Al-Shabaab was responsible for the twin suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, on July 11, 2010, which killed more than 70 people, including one American. The group has also been responsible for the assassination of Somali peace activists, international aid workers, numerous civil society figures, and journalists. In February 2012, al-Shabaab and al-Qaida announced their formal alliance through a statement in which Godane swore allegiance to al-Qaida and promised to follow “the road of jihad and martyrdom in the footsteps that our martyr Osama bin Laden has drawn for us.”

U.S. GIVES TERRORIST DESIGNATIONS TO TWO MEN TIED TO 2008 KHARTOUM ATTACK

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Terrorist Designations of Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhassan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed
Media Note 
Office of the Spokesperson 
Washington, DC
January 8, 2013

The U.S. Department of State has designated Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhassan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of this designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Abdelbasit and Makawi have any interest is blocked and any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. This action will help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to these terrorists.

Abdelbasit and Makawi participated in an armed attack in Khartoum, Sudan on January 1, 2008, which resulted in the deaths of a U.S. diplomat serving with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), John Michael Granville, and Adbelrahman Abbas Rahama, a Sudanese USAID employee. Abdelbasit shot Granville and Makawi killed Abbas Rahama during the attack. Both Abdelbasit and Makawi were convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a Sudanese criminal court in 2009. In 2010, they killed a Sudanese police officer and wounded another while escaping from prison. They remain at large.

The attack occurred when Granville and Abbas were leaving a New Year’s Eve party in Khartoum. Abdelbasit shot Granville and Makawi killed Abbas Rahama during the attack. Both men and two co-conspirators were convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a Sudanese criminal court in 2009. In 2010, they killed a Sudanese police officer and wounded another while escaping from a maximum security prison through a tunnel. One of the escapees was captured; another was reportedly killed in Somalia in May 2011.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Credit:  Wikimedia Commons.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
FTOs Use of Social Media
Taken Question
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 11, 2012

QUESTION: Do ‘U.S. based’ social media companies violate sanctions if Foreign Terrorists Organizations (FTOs) agree to their company’s contractual agreement before establishing an account?

ANSWER: This is an issue governed by U.S. law, including laws that regulate interactions with designated entities. For example, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are prohibited from knowingly providing material support or resources to an entity that has been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Additionally, it is illegal for persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to engage in transactions with an entity that has been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.

We would refer you to the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury, respectively for any questions about how these are enforced in specific civil and criminal cases.

 

DESIGNATIONS OF GLOBAL TERRORISTS FOR "UNITY AND JIHAD" AND TWO LEADERS

A beach used by tourists west of Algiers.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Terrorist Designations of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, Hamad el Khairy, and Ahmed el Tilemsi

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 7, 2012

The Department of State has designated the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA, also known by MUJAO), Hamad el Khairy, and Ahmed el Tilemsi, two of the organization’s leaders, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of the designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which MUJWA, Khairy, or Tilemsi has any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them or to their benefit.

In addition to today’s domestic designation under E.O. 13224, MUJWA is also listed by the United Nations 1267/1989 al-Qa’ida Sanctions Committee. The UN listing requires all member states to implement an assets freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against MUJWA. The UN action demonstrates international resolve in eliminating MUJWA’s violent activities in Mali and the surrounding region.

MUJWA was created in September 2011 after members broke off from al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in order to spread their activities into West Africa. MUJWA has been behind violent terrorist attacks and kidnappings in the region, including the October 2011 abduction of three aid workers from a refugee camp in western Algeria; a March 2012 suicide attack on a police base in Tamanrasset, Algeria, which wounded 23 people; and a June 2012 attack in Ouargla, Algeria, which killed one and injured three. MUJWA was also responsible for the April 2012 kidnapping of seven Algerian diplomats in Gao, Mali. Although three of the diplomats have since been released, MUJWA continues to make demands in exchange for the release of the remaining diplomats, and has threatened to kill the hostages if those demands are unmet.

Hamad el Khairy and Ahmed el Tilemsi are both founding leaders of MUJWA. Khairy has been involved in MUJWA’s kidnapping for ransom operations, personally claiming the group’s April 2012 abduction of Algerian diplomats, and has appeared in MUJWA videos to make threats against those who oppose the organization. Prior to his leadership role in MUJWA, Khairy was a member of AQIM, and was involved in planning terrorist operations against Mauritania in 2007. Tilemsi acts as MUJWA’s military head, and directly participated in the group’s October 2011 kidnapping of three aid workers in Algeria, which left two wounded by gunfire. Before joining MUJWA, Tilmesi was also affiliated with AQIM, and participated in that organization’s January 2011 abduction of two French nationals in Niamey, Niger.

ABDUL RAUF RECEIVES SPECIALLY DESIGNATED GLOBAL TERRORIST TITLE FROM U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE



Photo Credit:  U.S. Army.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Designation of Haqqani Network Chief of Suicide Operations Qari Zakir

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 5, 2012
The Secretary of State has designated Haqqani Network chief of suicide operations Qari Zakir (also known as Abdul Rauf) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of the designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Zakir has any interest is blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him or to his benefit.

In addition to today’s domestic designation under E.O. 13224, both Qari Zakir and the Haqqani Network as an organization were listed by the United Nations 1988 Sanctions Committee. The UN listings will require all UN member states to implement an assets freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo against the Haqqani Network and Qari Zakir. The Haqqani Network was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under E.O. 13224 in September 2012, and today’s UN actions demonstrate international resolve in eliminating the Haqqani Network’s ability to execute violent attacks in Afghanistan.

Qari Zakir is the chief of suicide operations for the Haqqani Network and the operational commander in Kabul, Takhar, Kunduz, and Baghlan Provinces, Afghanistan. Zakir is responsible for the Haqqani Network’s training program, which includes instruction in small arms, heavy weapons, and basic improvised explosive device (IED) construction.

Zakir approached Haqqani Network leader Sirajuddin Haqqani in 2008, requesting financial assistance in exchange for expanding the group’s influence and operations into northern Afghanistan, and has become a trusted associate and confidant of Sirajuddin. He has been involved in many of the Haqqani Network’s high-profile suicide attacks and is partially responsible for making some of the final determinations on whether or not to proceed with large-scale attacks planned by local district-level commanders. Attacks using personnel selected from Zakir’s training program include the 2010 attacks on coalition force bases Salerno and Chapman; the June 2011 attack on the Intercontinental Hotel, which killed 11 civilians and two Afghan policemen; and the September 2011 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, which killed 16 Afghans, including at least six children.

TREASURY DESIGNATED TWO EXCHANGE HOUSES WITH STORING OR MOVING MONEY FOR TALIBAN

Map Credit:  Wikimedia/CIA
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 
Action Targets Terrorist Financing Linked to Hawalas
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated two exchange houses, the Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange (HKHS) and the Roshan Money Exchange (RMX), which principally operate in Afghanistan and Pakistan, pursuant to the U.S. government’s terrorism sanctions authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, for storing or moving money for the Taliban. Treasury is also designating the co-owners of HKHS, Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai and Haji Khairullah Barakzai, pursuant to E.O. 13224 for donating money and providing financial services to the Taliban.  Both HKHS and RMX operate as hawalas and have been used by the Taliban to facilitate money transfers in support of the Taliban’s narcotics trade and terrorist operations.  Today the United Nations also added Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai, Haji Khairullah Barakzai, HKHS and RMX to its 1988 List of individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan.

“Today’s action, which coincides with action by the UN, is aimed at disabling two key financial hubs supporting the Taliban.  Whether financial support to the Taliban moves through banks or less formal mechanisms, like the hawalas we are designating in this action, we will continue to work alongside our partners to expose and disrupt this illicit financial activity,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen.

As a result of today’s action, all property in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which HKHS, RMX, Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai (Sattar), or Haji Khairullah Barakzai (Khairullah) have an interest is blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai
Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai is being designated today for owning, or controlling HKHS, and for providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial, or other services to, or in support of, the Taliban.  Sattar is a co-owner and operator of HKHS.  Sattar and Khairullah have co-owned and jointly operated hawalas known as HKHS throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Dubai and managed an HKHS branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.  As of late 2009, Sattar and Khairullah had an equal partnership in HKHS.  Sattar founded HKHS and customers chose to use HKHS in part because of Sattar’s and Khairullah’s well-known names.

Sattar has donated thousands of dollars to the Taliban to support Taliban activities in Afghanistan and has distributed funds to the Taliban using his hawala.  As of 2010, Sattar provided financial assistance to the Taliban.  As of late 2009, Sattar provided tens of thousands of dollars to aid the Taliban’s fight against Coalition Forces in Marjah, Nad’Ali District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and helped to transport a Taliban member to Marjah.  As of 2008, Sattar and Khairullah collected money from businessmen and distributed the funds to the Taliban using their hawala.

Haji Khairullah Barakzai
Haji Khairullah Barakzai is being designated today for owning or controlling HKHS, and for providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial, or other services to, or in support of, the Taliban.  Khairullah is a co-owner and operator of HKHS.  As of late 2009, Khairullah and Sattar had an equal partnership in HKHS.  They jointly operated hawalas known as HKHS throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Dubai and managed an HKHS branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.  As of early 2010, Khairullah was the head of the HKHS branch in Kabul.

As of 2010, Khairullah was a hawaladar, or hawala operator, for Taliban senior leadership and provided financial assistance to the Taliban.  Khairullah, along with his business partner Sattar, provided thousands of dollars to the Taliban to support Taliban activities in Afghanistan.  As of 2008, Khairullah and Sattar collected money from businessmen and distributed the funds to the Taliban using their hawala.

Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange (HKHS)
Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange (HKHS) is being designated today for providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to, or in support of, the Taliban.  HKHS is co-owned by Haji Abdul Sattar Barakzai and Haji Khairullah Barakzai.  Sattar and Khairullah have jointly operated money exchanges throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Taliban leaders have used HKHS to disseminate money to Taliban shadow governors and commanders and to receive hawala transfers for the Taliban.

As of 2011, HKHS was a preferred method for Taliban leadership to transfer money to Taliban commanders in Afghanistan.  In late 2011, the HKHS branch in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan was used to send money to the Taliban shadow governor for Helmand Province.  In mid-2011, a Taliban commander used an HKHS branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to fund fighters and operations in Afghanistan. After the Taliban deposited a significant amount of cash monthly with this HKHS branch, Taliban commanders could access the funds from any HKHS branch.  Taliban personnel used HKHS in 2010 to transfer money to hawalas in Afghanistan, where operational commanders could access the funds.  As of late 2009, the manager of the HKHS branch in Lashkar Gah oversaw the movement of Taliban funds through HKHS.

Roshan Money Exchange
Roshan Money Exchange (RMX) is being designated today for providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial, or other services to, or in support of, the Taliban.  RMX stores and transfers funds in support of Taliban military operations and the Taliban’s role in the Afghan narcotics trade.  As of 2011, RMX was one of the primary hawalas used by Taliban officials in Helmand Province.
In 2011, a senior Taliban member withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars from an RMX branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to distribute to Taliban shadow provincial governors.  To fund the Taliban’s spring offensive in 2011, the Taliban shadow governor of Helmand Province sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to RMX.  Also in 2011, a Taliban member received tens of thousands of dollars from RMX to support military operations.  An RMX branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region also held tens of thousands of dollars to be collected by a Taliban commander.  In 2010, on behalf of the Taliban shadow governor of Helmand Province, a Taliban member used RMX to send thousands of dollars to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.

The RMX branch in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, has been used by the Taliban to transfer funds for operations to Helmand Province.  In 2011, a Taliban sub-commander transferred tens of thousands of dollars to a Taliban commander through the RMX branch in Lashkar Gah.  The Taliban also sent funds to the RMX branch in Lashkar Gah for distribution to Taliban commanders in 2010.  Also in 2010, a Taliban member used RMX to send tens of thousands of dollars to Helmand Province and Herat Province, Afghanistan, on behalf of the Taliban shadow governor of Helmand Province.
In 2009, a senior Taliban representative collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from an RMX branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to finance Taliban military operations in Afghanistan.  In 2008, a Taliban leader used RMX to transfer tens of thousands of dollars to Afghanistan.

The Taliban also uses RMX to facilitate its role in the Afghan narcotics trade.  As of 2011, Taliban officials, including the shadow governor of Helmand Province, transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars from an RMX branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to hawalas in Afghanistan for the purchase of narcotics on behalf of Taliban officials.  Also in 2011, a Taliban official directed Taliban commanders in Helmand Province to transfer opium proceeds through RMX.  One Taliban district chief transferred thousands of dollars from Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan to an RMX branch in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.