Somali Elders Demand Kenya Extradite Alleged Al-Shabaab Associates Amid Rising Insecurity

Somali elders have accused Kenya of allegedly sheltering individuals linked to the Al-Shabaab militant group and demanded their immediate extradition to Somalia over claims of involvement in attacks that have killed civilians.

Caaqil Nur Hussein Ali, a prominent elder from Somalia’s Mudulood clan, made the accusations during a press conference in Mogadishu on Thursday, November 12.

Ali accused Kenya of providing shelter and political asylum to a senior Somali political figure suspected of having links to Al-Shabaab. He also mentioned the figure’s associates and father-in-law, a military commander identified as Shub.

The elder claimed the individuals were contributing to violence in Somalia, particularly in the South West State. He accused them of undermining the local administration and creating instability in the region.

Ali questioned Kenya’s approach to fighting terrorism. He argued that authorities should investigate people suspected of supporting militant groups instead of concentrating only on armed fighters and those involved in bomb attacks.

He called on Somalia’s federal government to issue arrest warrants against the individuals and formally request their extradition from Kenya. He also urged Nairobi and Mogadishu to work together to address the allegations.

The accusations come days after an Al-Shabaab attack near Mandera reportedly killed civilians and construction engineers. The incident renewed concerns about security along the Kenya-Somalia border.

Somalia’s federal government also reportedly imposed sanctions on the senior political figure on October 13 over alleged links to the militant group. Financial institutions were directed to freeze accounts and assets belonging to the affected individuals.

However, the allegations against those reportedly hosted in Kenya have not been independently verified. The Kenyan government had not immediately responded to the claims.

https://x.com/Kenyans/status/2121166358218150364?a=A3wfIS5g_UG_6xuIK38&s=19

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