By M.A. Egge

The Federal Government of Somalia has appealed to the United Nations Security council to lift the sanctions imposed upon Somali telecommunications magnate Mr. Ahmed Noor Jimaale.

According to a press release circulated in websites by the SFG Premier’s press officer Mr. Garad Salad Hersi, the cabinet agreed concretely on the decision to have the entrepreneur get clearance.

It quotes the Minister of Information and Transport saying that according to an investigative task force instituted by the state to delve into the allegations against Mr. Jimaale, the committee absolves him of any wrong doing in abetting terrorism.

“The committee that has absolved Mr. Jimale consisted of intelligence officers and consultants, business and associated fraternities” said Minister Abdillahi Ilmoge Hersi.

He added that they have investigated all quarters that mattered including amongst the societies of communities, eminent business and clerical circles, traditional leaders hence Mr. Jimale is “deemed spotless and absolved of the said crimes”.

The minister accounts the plea to the UN Security Council and community of nations in lifting the sanctions in the spirit of guarding the individual and material rights and reconciliatory efforts of the state.

The cabinet reached the agreement in their regular cabinet meetings held on the 21/22nd August under the PM’s chairmanship.

It is noteworthy to mention that earlier month the president of Somalia was alleged to be an Al-shabaab by veteran politician Ali Khalif Galeid (an SFG parliamentarian).

Sooner rather than later ,the internationally renowned MSF institution had to bolt out of the country, ironically, where they had braved all heat and storms for the past 21 odd years!

The UN Security Council had slapped sanctions upon Mr. Jimale hence severally renewed it, most recently, as at the first quarter of this year.

The order according to the power conferred up the UNSC committee in resolution 751 of 1992 and resolution 1907 of 2009 concerning the Horn of African state read as follows:

On 17 February 2012, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea added one individual to the list of individuals and entities subject to the travel ban, assets freeze and targeted arms embargo imposed by paragraphs 1, 3 and 7 of resolution 1844 (2008).

(12) Jim’ale, Ali Ahmed Nur

AKA: JIM’ALE, Ahmed Ali
AKA: JIM’ALE, Ahmad Nur Ali
AKA: JIM’ALE, Sheikh Ahmed
AKA: JIM’ALE, Ahmad Ali
AKA: JIM’ALE, Shaykh Ahmed Nur

DOB: 1954
POB: Eilbur, Somalia
Nationality: Somalia
Alt. nationality: Djibouti
Passport: A0181988 (Somalia), exp. 23 January 2011
Location: Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti

Ali Ahmed Nur Jim’ale (Jim’ale) has served in leadership roles with the former Somali Council of Islamic Courts, also known as the Somali Islamic Courts Union, which was a radical-Islamist element. The most radical elements of the Somali Islamic Courts Union eventually formed the group known as Al-Shabaab. Al‑Shabaab was listed for targeted sanctions in April 2010 by the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea (the “Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee”). The Committee listed Al-Shabaab for being an entity engaged in acts that directly threatens the peace, security, or stability of Somalia, including but not limited to acts that pose a threat to Somali Transitional Federal Government.

According to the 18 July 2011 report of the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee’s Monitoring Group (S/2011/433), Jim’ale is identified as a prominent businessman and figure in the Al-Shabaab charcoal-sugar trading cycle and benefitting from privileged relationships with Al-Shabaab.

Jim’ale is identified as one of Al-Shabaab’s chief financiers and is ideologically aligned with Al-Shabaab. Jim’ale has provided key funding and political support for Hassan Dahir Aweys (“Aweys”), who was also listed by the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee. Former Al-Shabaab Deputy Emir Muktar Robow reportedly continued to engage in political posturing within the Al-Shabaab organization during the mid-2011. Robow engaged Aweys and Jim’ale in an effort to advance their shared objectives and consolidate their overall stance within the context of the Al-Shabaab leadership rift.

As of fall 2007, Jim’ale established a front company in Djibouti for extremist activities called the Investors Group. The short-term goal of the group was, through the funding of extremist activities and weapons purchases, to destabilize Somaliland. The group assisted in smuggling small arms from Eritrea through Djibouti into the 5th region of Ethiopia where extremists received the shipment. As of mid-2008, Jim’ale continued to operate the Investors Group.

As of late September 2010, Jim’ale established ZAAD, a mobile-to-mobile money-transfer business and struck a deal with Al-Shabaab to make money transfers more anonymous by eliminating the need to show identification.

As of late 2009, Jim’ale had a known hawala fund where he collected zakat, which was provided to Al-Shabaab.

Jim’ale also controls Hormuud Telecommunications (“Hormuud”). Hormuud Telecommunications is a company identified as being one of the single largest financiers of Al-Shabaab, which includes large lump-sum payments to Al-Shabaab in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and these payments to Al-Shabaab were facilitated by Jim’ale.

Hormuud is operated by several former large shareholders of Al-Barakaat with Jim’ale being the largest shareholder. Hormuud Telecommunications was created by the former leaders of Al-Barakaat in an attempt to re-establish themselves as a dominant telecom provider in Somalia. In addition, Hormuud managers have provided Al-Shabaab leaders such as Hassan al-Turki, an Al-Shabaab-aligned military leader who was also listed by the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee, with personal communication networks.

In addition to providing funding, Hormuud Telecommunications has provided key material and logistical support to Al-Shabaab to include weapons, private fighters and ammunition. Spokespersons for moderate Somali groups have warned the Somali people not to use Hormuud Telecommunications Company, because Hormuud personnel listen in on conversations for Al-Shabaab. Additionally, Hormuud has cut off telephone service during Al-Shabaab attacks against pro-Somali Government forces.

The latest version of the list is available on the Committee’s webpage at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/751/…_cons_list.pdf.

www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/somalia.pdf

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20120925.aspx

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20011107.aspx

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20120302.aspx

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