Somali security forces in Southwest State have captured a senior Al-Shabaab financial operative in Buur Hakaba district, Bay region, dealing a critical blow to the militant group’s funding network in one of its strongholds.
The detainee, Aliyow Isaaq Moalim, was apprehended during a dawn raid in Buur-Helede, a village near Buur Hakaba. Described as a key figure in the group’s regional financial operations, Macalin was caught issuing vehicle permits—a lucrative source of income used to fund Al-Shabaab’s insurgency.
Commander Mohamed Hassan Adan, known as Sandheere, who led the operation, underscored its significance in weakening Al-Shabaab’s grip on the Bay region. “Disrupting their financial network is a decisive step toward eradicating their influence,” he said, emphasizing the broader implications of targeting the group’s economic lifeline.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has long exploited extortion and taxation to sustain its insurgency. In regions like Buur Hakaba, the group imposes hefty levies on businesses and travellers, often under the guise of administrative fees, draining local communities of resources.
Southwest State officials hailed the operation as a victory in the ongoing campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s infrastructure. “Capturing such a high-ranking financial officer cripples their ability to sustain operations in this region,” read an official statement
