US designates Somali extremist as a global terrorist

KAMPALA, Uganda – The U.S. State Department has designated a Somali Islamic extremist, Abdiqadir Mumin, as a global terrorist.

In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. said the designation means all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Mumin has any interest is blocked, and U.S. citizens are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

Mumin had been a key figure and cleric within the Somali extremist group al-Shabab until late 2015, when he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

He is believed to command about 200 of his own fighters.

Somalia is in the grip of lethal attacks by al-Shabab, which is fighting to carve out an Islamic state in the Horn of Africa nation.

Although the group has lost a lot of territory, it frequently carries out suicide bombings.