Wednesday August 6, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali authorities have frozen nearly $1 million following a major investigation into more than 3,500 bank accounts suspected of financing terrorist groups, the Office of the Attorney General announced Tuesday.
The probe, conducted in collaboration with local financial institutions, the Financial Reporting Center (FRC), and international partners, targeted accounts allegedly used by Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups to launder money and fund operations across Somalia and beyond.
“This latest seizure is a major step in our efforts to protect Somalia’s financial system from abuse by extremist networks,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that our institutions are not exploited to fund acts of terror.”
Authorities said an additional $500,000 suspected of being linked to these networks is still under investigation, with legal steps underway to recover those assets.
In addition to the asset freeze, prosecutors have filed more than 50 cases linked to money laundering and terror financing. Some of the suspects are believed to be abroad, and the Attorney General’s Office said it is working closely with INTERPOL to facilitate arrests and extraditions.
The office also reported successful convictions in more than 13 criminal cases related to terror financing and money laundering. These rulings, officials said, send a clear message that Somalia is building the legal and institutional capacity to counter financial crimes linked to extremism.
“This was made possible by dismantling financial networks that exploited public institutions and redirected funds to violent groups,” the statement added.
The Attorney General’s Office urged Somali businesses and financial institutions to fully comply with financial transparency laws and international standards aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. It also encouraged the public to report any suspicious financial activity that may be linked to extremist organizations.
“We ask all Somali citizens to cooperate with the Office of the Attorney General and other investigative agencies by reporting any suspicious movement of funds that could be associated with terrorist groups,” the statement read.