The Department of State has designated Ahmad Iman Ali and Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. E.O. 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.

These designations seek to deny Ahmad Iman Ali and Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of their property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.

Ahmad Iman Ali is a prominent al-Shabaab commander who has served as the group’s leader in Kenya since 2012. He is director of the group’s Kenyan operations, which has targeted Kenyan African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops in Somalia, such as the January 2016, attack in El Adde, Somalia. Ali is also responsible for al-Shabaab propaganda targeting the Kenyan government and civilians, such as a July 2017, video in which he issues threats to Muslims serving in Kenya’s security forces. Ali has also served as an al-Shabaab recruiter, focusing on poor youth in Nairobi slums, and has fundraised at mosques to support al-Shabaab activities.

In 2015, Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi was placed on the Kenyan government’s wanted list of terrorists known or suspected to be members of al-Shabaab. Abdi is wanted in connection with the June 2014, attack in Mpeketoni, Kenya that claimed more than 50 lives.

Terrorism designations expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and other governments. In addition to being designated today by the Secretary of State, Ahmad Iman Ali and Abdifatah Abubakar Abdi have also been listed at the United Nation’s Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea.

A list of State Department-designated FTOs and SDGTs is available here: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/index.htm.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program is offering rewards for information leading to the identification or location of three key leaders associated with the terrorist organization Tehrik–e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated factions.

The Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on TTP leader Maulana Fazlullah, and up to $3 million each for information on Abdul Wali and Mangal Bagh.

Maulana Fazlullah is the leader of the TTP, a terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist acts against Pakistani and U.S. interests, including the failed attempt by Faisal Shahzad to detonate an explosive device in New York City’s Times Square on May 1, 2010. Under his leadership, the TTP has also claimed responsibility for the December 16, 2014, attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan in which gunmen killed 148 people, including 132 students. Fazlullah also is responsible for the June 2012, beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers, and the October 9, 2012, shooting of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. In 2015, the Department designated Fazlullah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, which freezes all of his assets based in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons.

Abdul Wali is the leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JUA), a militant faction affiliated with TTP. Under Wali’s leadership, JUA has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement, and was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar in early March 2016.

Mangal Bagh is the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant faction affiliated with TTP. Under his leadership, LeI operatives have attacked NATO convoys. His group generates revenue from drug trafficking, smuggling, kidnapping, and collection of “taxes” on transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In September 2007, the Government of Pakistan announced a reward offer of about $60,000 for the capture of, or information leading to the arrest of, Mangal Bagh.

Each of these individuals is believed to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of the United States and its nationals. In addition to opposing the Pakistani military, one of TTP’s stated goals is the expulsion of Coalition troops from Afghanistan. The group has demonstrated a close alliance with al-Qa’ida, and, since 2008, has also repeatedly publicly threatened to attack the U.S. homeland.

More information about these reward offers is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on these individuals to contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (info@rewardsforjustice.net), phone (1-800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA). Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Office at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $145 million to more than 90 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rewards4Justice.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

Secretary Tillerson met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu in Addis Ababa today, addressing a wide range of shared interests in security, economic growth, and governance. The Secretary underscored U.S. appreciation for Ethiopia’s role in improving regional security as a both caretaker of refugees and of contributor to peacekeeping operations, and as a leader in both the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union. The Secretary emphasized that the United States supports Ethiopia as it does the hard work of advancing democratic reforms to broaden political participation. The Secretary also encouraged the Foreign Minister to continue to focus on private sector growth and the transparency that creates the environment for increased investment.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert

Secretary Rex Tillerson met with AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki today to reaffirm the United States’ and AU’s mutual respect and strong commitment to the shared goal of a stable and prosperous Africa. Their conversation builds upon the momentum created by their previous meeting in November on the margins of the annual U.S.-AU High Level Dialogue in Washington D.C.

The United States applauded the launch of the AU’s 2018 “African Anti-Corruption Year,” with Secretary Tillerson indicating the United States stands ready to support AU anti-corruption efforts. The United States and the AU share a commitment to combat corruption, which in turn improves the conditions for free and fair trade, enables an open environment for business, and sets the stage for good governance.

The two also discussed a few country-specific issues, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the United States continues to urge the AU to press all parties – including the DRC government and the political opposition – to work towards December 2018 DRC elections. Secretary Tillerson and Chairperson Faki agreed the AU and Intergovernmental Authority on Development should continue to apply pressure on the warring parties in South Sudan for a negotiated solution, to protect the lives and welfare of innocent South Sudanese.

Secretary Tillerson thanked Chairman Faki and the AU for its continued attention to and good work across the Continent and underscored the strong U.S.-AU bilateral relationship.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Ambassador Alice Wells, the Senior Bureau Official in the Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, will deliver remarks on “Signs of Hope for Afghan Peace Talks” at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9, 2018, at the U.S. Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC.

Ambassador Wells’ remarks will be open to the press. To cover Ambassador Wells’ remarks, please contact Paul Johnson at pjohnson@usip.org by Thursday, March 8 at 5:00 p.m. Additional logistical information will be shared with confirmed camera crews. Outlets requesting to send still photographers must pre-register.

Ambassador Wells’ speech will be livestreamed at https://www.usip.org/events/signs-hope-afghan-peace-talks. Follow @State_SCA during the event for updates and live tweets.

USIP media credentials are available to reporters, editors working as reporters, producers, camera operators and still photographers who work for legitimate media organizations and who present their official government-issued press credentials. Due to the limited space for media at “Signs of Hope for Afghan Peace Talks,” USIP reserves the right to limit the number of representatives of each media outlet attending the event.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.