Both foreign and domestic money financing Al-shabaab.

[galbeedi]

 

 

In nineteen nineties, when the Mogadishu war between Aideed and Cali Mahdi was cooling down, suddenly a huge shell exploded in the Bakara Market of Mogadishu. The casualty was bad. The main question everyone asking was: who was behind this crime?. A man no one heard before , by the name of Muuse Suudi Yalaxow came out and said " Aarey Aniga Waaye Igaarka Madfaca Soo Tuuray". It was one of the most dramatic ways to introduce himself in the Warlord invested streets of Mogadishu. The rest is history.

 

In order to distinguish itself from other extremist groups , a northern Nigeria based terror group called Boco Haram, attacked a boarding school in Nigeria and massacred 70 student while they were sleep. When everyone including the government inquired about the atrocities and the groups behind it , they said " it is us Boko Haram, our name means education is forbidden and will kill those who enroll these government run schools in Nigeria".

 

Since then, they murdered and kidnapped girls as young as 10 years old. One of the most publicised cases were the kidnapping of 300 school girls whom are still missing. As we speak , they have crossed to Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In order to slow down and confront this growing threat , the African Union has agreed to send 17,000 African troops to help combat Boko Haram.

 

Looking carefully these new developments and the growing capacity of Boko Haram, certain questions remain unanswered. How can a small band of back ward extremists in northern Nigeria suddenly rose to prominent within few years of their formation?. How come a group who numbered few hundreds, just two years ago are crossing international borders of three nations?. Why Nigeria , one of the richest countries in Africa with huge military capabilities, even need the help of Uganda or others?. Where did the Boko Hram get it's weapons?, since they are paying salary to their members just like Al-shabaab , who is financing them?, these and many other questions need to be answered.

 

One could say that conflict weapons from Libya might have contributed to the coffers of Boko Haram arson, or the underdeveloped parts of northern Nigeria regions may have attracted disgruntled communities and unemployed youth, but the biggest question is how can they maintain the lavish life style their leaders enjoy, including expensive late model vehicles worth tens of thousand?. While there are always ideological or religious motivations among some of members , recent history of these groups have shown that money is the biggest motivation to participate these conflicts.. Both local and foreign money is the root cause for the rise of Al-shabaab and many others.

 

Recently, the gulf monarchies are distancing themselves from ISIS and other extremist groups in the region, but clear evidence shows most of them, especially Saudi billionaires, are the financiers of most of the Wahabi inspired confrontation in the Muslim world. As we speak, Al-shbaab is raising money in the Bakara market openly without reprisals. There are clandestine cooperation between certain business people and Al-shabaab. A person caring a bag or some sort shows up at the Bakara market and traders are told to contribute for the cause of Islam , which they do quietly. While everyone is horrified about the crimes of Al-shabaab, including this month's Garisa University Massacher, many business people inside Somalia do not condemn or willing to confront the extremists.

 

While major hotels and government buildings are bombed, not one single telecom , business or buildings owned by these contributors of Al-shabaab are damaged. Non of the major holders of Banking, telecom and other businesses ever condemned or offered to participate the fight against al-shabaab. Have you ever heard the owners of Al-barakaat, Hormuud, Sometel; Dahabshiil and Salaama bank owners ever condemn Al-shabaab?, never. They are making millions from the misery of the people.

 

Then there is the so called Zaad Service. These electronic transfer of money through your mobile phone is the greatest invention that made these extremist groups operate without detection and regulation. In the older days, in order to recruit spy or saboteurs, you supposed to meet them physically. Now, all you need is buy them a cell phone and transfer the monthly salary and other instructions through the mobile phone. Many of them are just mules carrying equipment and weapons from point A to point B, without knowing the mission. Yet, this incompetent government does not even add these developments to the equation.

 

In my opinion Al-shabbab is smaller scale in the food chain of criminals rooming in Mogadishu. Of course they are the most dangerous terrorists with their scale of bombings and killings , but they can only exist as parasites who must live among certain environment. So, in order to eliminate them, you must drain the wells they reside and their financers. Here is the list of oligarchs and ideological backers of Al-shabba , who must be eliminated in order for the movement to disappear.

 

1- Wahaabi ideology and doctrine: the Wahabi movement is headquartered in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies. Their biggest asset, more than any thing is plenty of money. The barrel of oil was almost $100 dollars for the last eight years which made them the richest regions of the world. With a local population of less than 40 million , the gulf monarchies are awash with cash. They may be filthy rich in terms of money, but they couldn't offer much for the wider world or the Muslim world in general. They don't build bridges or highways like Chines to increase infrastructure, they do not have technological advances to offer, nor they could help a Muslim in dire need. So, the only thing they could spread among war invested Muslim regions is their despotic life style, among them Wahabi doctrine of the Gulf.

 

In the Islamic tradition, monarchies are unIslamic institutions . In Islam, meritocracy, experience and good character are the virtues leaders should be selected to lead their communities, unlike feudal monarchies where corrupt individuals are crowned by the ruling family. While their governments are passive in most issues, their rich billionaires are very active.

 

As soon as Al-shabaab took over KIsmaayo, some of their first acts were filming the beatings of a young girl accused of Adultery, and digging and destroying of cemeteries. These videos are sent to these rich gulf sheekhs who declare " Hadda ayaa Soomaalia laga helay koox Illahay Keli Yeelaysa", roughly means " for the first time Somalia got a group who believe the Oneness Od Allah". For them Al-shabaab and company are the bearers of true faith. What these ignorant monarchists do not know is that Islam reached the shores of Somalia before it reached Medina, Iraq or Pakistan. In the coastal city of Zailac, in Awdal region, there is a mosque called " Masjidul Qiblatayn", reminding when the Qible for prayer was Jerusalam. Just like Al-shabaab, one of the first acts of ISIS was to destroy older cemeteries and mosques which is the most fundamental doctrine of Wahabism. It is their first act. Not peace, education , governance or rule of law but destruction. This rigid doctrine not only saws hatred and divisions among Muslims , but it also exasperates the existing problems of a community who were already overwhelmed with other man made issues.

 

By now, every Muslim around the world is shocked about the crimes these extremist movements, but we all have failed to grasp the ideological origins of these movements. Of course their are tribal, nationalistic and other local issues feeding some these conflicts, but their cruelty doesn't rise from a vacuum, it must originate some where. In fact it is easy to profile these sects. Beheading, destruction of cemeteries-- even two feet high tombs--, restrictions of women and people in general, and eventually harsh treatment for those who happen in their way. These are their hallmark. Did I mention the black flag?. Among the most fundamental tenants of our Iman is the believe in the here after where " every soul shall rise from the dead and answer their Lord for hi/her bad and good deeds in their life. For these groups, desperation, destruction and the dispensing of harsh punishment as much as possible in this world , is the key. For them , Allah's judgement day cannot wait for here after.

 

In order to control the destruction of these foreign sect, Somali governments must restrict their money supply and promote the religion of mercy which we all grown up. Also, for starters, every conflict that pitches Arab dictators and their people, middle eastern sects and tribal groups, should not be called Jihad for Islam. It is just different groups vying for power and supremacy. One example of this is the Yemen war, where a minority Shia sect want to take power by the barrel of gun. They probably have seen small Allawi sect in Syria impose their will in the land or the Iran financed Hezbollah assert power in Lebanon. We have no business interfering with these intra-Arab conflicts or their ideological sects.

 

2- Business oligarchs: Most of these oligarchs made their money during the civil. While most of them do badly needed services in a country without a functioning government for twenty years, some how accidentally , they became themselves the state within the Somali state. In some aspects , they are even bigger than the government it self.

 

stay tuned for the second part........

 

[Mooge]

Then there is the so called Zaad Service. These electronic transfer of money through your mobile phone is the greatest invention that made these extremist groups operate without detection and regulation. In the older days, in order to recruit spy or saboteurs, you supposed to meet them physically. Now, all you need is buy them a cell phone and transfer the monthly salary and other instructions through the mobile phone. Many of them are just mules carrying equipment and weapons from point A to point B, without knowing the mission. Yet, this incompetent government does not even add these developments to the equation.

 

Galbeedi niyooow, you are the smartest person on this forum. you figured it out before anyone else. Zaad is the most effective terrorist financing service in existence today.

 

[galbeedi]

Mooge waan ku Salaamay. Even the most stable economies and countries, no one is allowed to carry a cash exceeding $10,000 dollars. How can you transfer someone through mobile phone one thousand or more dollars without trace.

 

That is why it become difficult to catch " horjoogayaasha Al-shabaab". He is typically conducting business without contact.

[Che -Guevara]

ZAAD has become the tool of the terrorists. It is amazing how money goes through it without any questions.

 

galbeedi, I am assuming you will touch on the financial interests of neighboring countries. Their military forces are now involved in shady businesses,expect many millionaire Tigray generals.

 

 

[Holac]

Galbeedi, who controls ZAAD now and who developed it? Is it like Bitcoin?

[galbeedi]

Hlac, it could be similar to Bitcoin in terms of purchasing and currency exchanges. They also put certain value on the coin which is equivalent of some dollars. While Bitcoin is replacing the dollar as agreed upon currency, Zaad Service is simple transfer of cash through the phone.

 

This big difference is Zaad service is unanimous telephone banking. Small merchants can set up accounts and load the money in your phone. After transaction is concluded no one is able to trace or control.

 

Telesom company controls the service. They are owned by former Al-Barakat and Salama Bank owners. IN the Somali business and political landscape, they are the biggest fish.

[Tallaabo]

Although ZAAD and the other mobile money transfer services are as susceptible to abuse as any other business, their beneficial impact on the welfare of the Somalis is undisputed. Before the advent of this technology people used to carry around their money and many lost it to robbery and theft. However now all one has to do is carry his/her humble mobile phone.

I think Somali authorities in every part of the Horn should demand more control and transparency from these companies to make it difficult for terrorists to use them.

[Adam]

You write these long articles but what evidence do you have those s services are guilty of your online accusations and slandering obviously you do have a motive? is it to destroy legitimate hard working peoples livelihood ten of thousands of somali families rely on these companies everyday to receive small sum cash from relatives in a nation with out a proper banking system. stop attacking these remittance services or get proof instead of hiding behind a anonymous username in some boring forum. Yes I have heard all those services and the entire region including today the Somalia and Kenya governments condemning Alshabab and all the criminals operating and killing the innocent people. What used to be Somali democratic republic had a state collapse long time before anyone heard about shabbes or any other post state -collapse actors and thats where you could begin just before days of manacopy and manifesto.

[galbeedi]

I never accuse legitimate Hawalas who are the life line of the people back home including my own family. This is not about Hawala service, it is about unanimous telephone banking that is facilitating the killing of innocent Somalis.

 

We are all for free enterprise and open economic market, but you can't secure your people and country by overlooking this issues. You can not allow your citizens to be bombed like insects by a dozen every other month. The question is how Al-shbaab is paying salaries and financing sleeper cells and local unemployed people. Believe me in Mogadishu every thing is about money.

[Mooge]

The question is how Al-shbaab is paying salaries and financing sleeper cells and local unemployed people. Believe me in Mogadishu every thing is about money.

 

next time they will tell us Alshabab is not using ZAAD because it receives boat load of money docking at the ports. lool. it is not a secret niyoow that alshabab distributes money from its big financiers through this discreet service called Zaad. Zaad is the best thing that happened to alshabab since it got its blessing from its cave dweller master in the ToraBorah mountains.

[Mintid Farayar]

Galbeedi,

On this Forum, you make many accusations without once backing up your charge with any basic facts/proof. What incidents do you know of where a particular crime was committed by an individual after a payment was made to that individual through Zaad? I'm asking because I, like many in the audience, am not privy to this information. So, please share with us the facts if you have any.

 

Secondly, should Barclays, RBS, Citibank, HSBC, or TD Bank be shut down as banking entities because criminals used a limited number of accounts to send payments for their criminal deeds? Wouldn't that unfairly hurt the millions of innocent account holders dependent on those banks? No, the usual procedure is to identify those accounts, shut them down, and penalize the actors involved. Your theory sounds like an interesting theory, but without proof, it's just another theory from the usual 'Cafe Calaacal' of the Qurbojoog Life.

 

 

[Holac]

<cite>

@Mintid Farayar

said:</cite>

Galbeedi,

Your theory sounds like an interesting theory, but without proof, it's just another theory from the usual 'Cafe Calaacal' of the Qurbojoog Life.

 

We also don't know if these companies are running a clean business.