A senior official of the radical Islamist Al-Shabaab group announced Friday that his movement was ready to reward anybody bringing in information leading to the killing or capture of top American leaders.
Sheikh Fu’ad Mohamed Khalaf alias Shongole specifically mentioned US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Sheikh Shongole was reacting to a statement from the US State Department putting a bounty of $33 million for the capture of top Al-Shabaab leaders. We are offering 10 camels for any information concerning (Barack) Obama,” said Shongole.
Suggesting and mocking that a woman is valued less he added, “We are going to reward 10 hens and 10 cocks to anyone easing information about (Hillary) Clinton.”
The Sheikh also informed the crowd that Al-Shabaab leaders survived attempts on their lives by former US President George W. Bush. “We fought Bush and why not Obama?” remarked the hardline cleric.
He added that his militants will seize any American in response to the bounty put on Al-Shabaab heads.
‘Right step’
On Thursday, the US offered $7 million to information leading to the capture of Al-Shabaab’s Ameer (Spiritual Leader), Ahmed Abdi Aw Mohammed Godane, also known as Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Aby Zubayr. Other rewards were offered for other six wanted militant leaders including Sheikh Shongole.
On Friday, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) issued a statement, welcoming the position taken by the United States in offering rewards towards the capture of the top Al-Shabaab leaders.
