Extortion

BOSASO, Somalia - The town of Bosaso, nestled in the arid expanse of Somalia's Northeastern State region, has long endured the ominous shadow of militant threats. But in a twist that locals consider a watershed moment, the dragnet has tightened around notorious Islamic State (Daesh) members accused of criminal activities that have plagued this area. Colonel Abdikadir Jama Dirir, the steely-eyed Bari region Police Commander, revealed to reporters on a brisk Wednesday morning how the orchestrated sweep played out.…

In the arid and turbulent terrains of Bosaso, a sense of tangible tension hangs in the air, not unlike the dust and whispers of the past conflicts that have dusted its streets. For some time now, this coastal city, esteemed for its commercial prowess, has found itself ensnared in the grip of militant groups, each more brazen than the next. Recently, however, a shift of sorts has begun to unfold. As vividly as a scene from an action film, Northeastern State security forces have detained several individuals linked to the…

Mogadishu (AX) – On a typical scorcher of a Saturday, under the merciless sun of El-Hero in the Mahaas district, a noteworthy arrest unfolded. Mohamed Rashid Abdi Hussein, once the chairman of the Ganuribad area in Somalia's Hiiraan region, found himself in handcuffs. The reason for his capture? A damning discovery: receipts from Al-Shabaab, the notorious militant group, left little room for doubt. These were not your ordinary receipts—they were felonious tokens, empowering a regime of illegal taxation on unsuspecting…

In a bustling week peppered with captivating headlines, a noteworthy claim has emerged regarding the Yemeni Houthis and their purported financial activities involving the Red Sea. Maritime lawyer Stephen Askins from Tatham & Co is casting a critical eye over these claims, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the notion that the Houthis are banking $180 million a month from maritime companies seeking safe passage through these waters.Mogadishu (AX) — The swirling rumors suggest that hefty payments are navigated through an…

ISIS Militants Rake in $6 Million Through Extortion in Somalia NAIROBI, Kenya - The relatively small yet menacing ISIS faction in Somalia has reportedly gathered nearly $6 million over the past couple of years, as highlighted in a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). The report also points to the group’s ambitious endeavors to broaden its control. Currently active in Northeastern State’s Bari region, the ISIS-linked faction comprises around 500 combatants, including several foreigners. Their…