Somalia’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed the killing of a senior al-Shabab leader in charge of finance during a targeted operation carried out on Sunday in the country’s southwestern region.
The ministry said on Monday that Abdullahi Abukar, al-Shabab’s head of finance who was responsible for managing funds extorted from civilians and coordinating the recruitment of child soldiers, was killed near Hudur town in the Bakool region.
“Abukar was a key operative who had long operated in Bakool under al-Shabab’s control and was among the most sought-after figures in the group,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry commended the successful operation carried out by the Somali National Army, which resulted in the killing of Abukar.
It said the precision operation eliminated a significant threat and dealt a major blow to al-Shabab’s operational network in the region.
The latest operation came a day after the allied forces recaptured the strategic town of Bariire, which al-Shabab had used as a launchpad for terrorist attacks in the region and Mogadishu.
