The United States Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, has announced a Ksh637.5 million ($5 million) bounty on Ali Mohamed Rage.
In a statement on Tuesday, February 28, the Diplomatic Security Service offered the reward for information leading to the identification or location of al-Shabaab key leader Ali Mohamed Rage.
"Rage was born in the Hawlwadag district of Mogadishu, Somalia in 1966 and has been involved in the planning of attacks in Kenya and Somalia," the statement said in part.
According to RFJ, Rage, who is also known as Ali Dheere has been Al Shabaab's chief spokesperson since May 2009.
The suspect is considered a senior leader within the terrorist organisation's hierarchy.
In 2011, Rage was quoted by Reuters news agency warning Kenyan troops who had ventured about 100km into Somalia claiming that the troops had killed locals in Somalia.
"We shall come into Kenya if you do not go back" Rage told Reuters then.
Furthermore, following a deadly attack that left 28 people aboard a bus near Mandera in November 2014, Rage confirmed that its members were behind the incident.
He claimed that the attack was "revenge for the crimes committed by the Kenyan crusaders against our Muslim brethren in Mombasa."
This is the latest development in Rage's case considering that the Department of State classified him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on August 6, 2021.
Further, the United Nations Security Council's Somalia Sanctions Committee added Rage to its Sanctions List on February 18, 2022.
The Department of State warned foreign financial institutions against facilitating a significant financial transaction or providing significant financial services with the terror suspect.
"The UN designation requires UN Member States to impose an arms embargo, including related training and financial assistance, a travel ban, and an assets freeze on Rage," the statement concluded.
