US Gov’t Offers $5 Million Bounty for Information on a Top Al-Shabaab Operative

The United States government has offered a $5 million bounty for information on a senior Al-Shabaab operative. 

Mahad Karate, alias Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, is a high-ranking member of Al-Shabab’s intelligence and security wing Amniyat, according to a notice issued by the State Department Rewards for Justice Program. He also serves as Al-Shabaab’s shadow deputy leader.

“Karate has some command responsibility over the Amniyat, al-Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing, as well as the group’s finances,” the department noted.

The Amniyat is responsible for suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya and other countries in the region, and provides logistical support for Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities.

The wing was behind the April 2015 attack on Garissa University in Kenya, where at least 140 people, mostly students, were killed.

“On April 10, 2015, the U.S. Department of State designated Karate as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property, and interests in property, of Karate that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Karate,” the State Department said.