Somalia Places Laftagareen on Financial Sanctions List Over Alleged Al-Shabaab Links

Somalia’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee has issued a notice placing 10 people on the national targeted financial sanctions list over alleged links to Al-Shabaab and involvement in financing or supporting terrorist activities.

The notice, dated October 13, 2026, directs reporting institutions, Somali citizens and other individuals and organizations operating in Somalia to stop dealing with those listed, freeze their assets and report their transactions to the Financial Reporting Center.

Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, identified in the document by the name “Laftagareen,” appears first on the list. The notice does not provide titles, positions or other identifying details for the individuals named.

The other nine are Hassan Abdulkadir Mohamed; Mahad Abdirahman Adan, known as “Shub”; Ibrahim Adan Ali, known as “Najah”; Hassan Abdi Mohamed, known as “Ugaas Hassan”; Abdullahi Ali Watiin; Abdifatah Mahad Abdirahman; Abdimajid Mowlid Hassan; Amiin Mad Daruur; and Abshir Aden Isak.

According to the committee, the designations followed an assessment of information and evidence submitted concerning people suspected of belonging to, maintaining connections with or working alongside Al-Shabaab.

The document also refers to suspected involvement in providing or facilitating financial support used or intended for terrorism financing, carrying out terrorist acts or supporting the organization. It does not specify which allegation applies to each person.

The committee said it had determined that sufficient grounds existed to designate the individuals under Somalia’s targeted financial sanctions law and its implementing regulations. The notice cites Article Six of the law and Article Seven of the regulations as the basis for its action.

Those provisions, as described in the document, concern identifying and designating people associated with terrorism and its financing, as well as restricting the use, transfer and benefit of their money and other assets.

Under the instructions accompanying the list, institutions and individuals covered by the notice must freeze any assets belonging to the designated people. They must also submit urgent reports about their transactions to the Financial Reporting Center, commonly known as the FRC.

The committee separately warned Somali citizens that any financial relationship with the listed individuals, or facilitation on their behalf, was prohibited. Anyone violating the decision would face action under applicable counterterrorism legislation, the notice said.

The two-page document does not publish the underlying evidence, identify specific transactions or describe the alleged conduct of each individual. It also contains no responses from those named.

The allegations therefore remain the committee’s stated grounds for imposing financial sanctions. The notice does not announce criminal convictions or provide details of any court proceedings involving the designated individuals.

Its immediate instructions concern financial restrictions: ending dealings with the listed people, freezing their assets and notifying the FRC about their transactions.

The notice carries the reference number GQKL/LMA/004/2026 and was issued in the name of the national committee in Mogadishu. It presents the designations as a measure taken in fulfillment of the committee’s statutory responsibilities to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

No information about assets already frozen, funds recovered or enforcement actions completed is included in the supplied document.