A Commentary from RUSI on 8th May argues that the lessons learned from disrupting Da’esh financing must be applied to the unchecked funding of Al-Shabaab, the jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa. It points out that the group has wreaked havoc in Somalia for years and regularly (directly or by inspiring others) commits atrocities beyond its borders. It says that global forums, such as the new annual counter-terror finance gathering, first hosted by President Macron in Paris in April 2018, should expand their restricted focus on Da’esh and Al-Qa’ida, to include not just ‘affiliates’ but to name and prioritise groups such as Al-Shabaab and involve and support affected countries such as Somalia and Kenya. FATF should likewise reflect the fact that terrorist financing threats are not limited to Da’esh. Furthermore, the relevant UN Panel of Experts must be provided with greater profile and a platform for influence. A taskforce dedicated to the disruption of the Al-Shabaab’s finances must be established under strong leadership.
https://rusi.org/commentary/reinvigorating-forgotten-financial-fight-against-al-shabaab
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