US hits Somali Islamist network with sanctions

Al-Shabab, the militant group which is linked to al-Qaeda and once controlled much of Somalia, is now classed as a "transnational money-laundering network" by Washington.

The US Department of the Treasury said on Monday it was taking action to "support the Somali government" in their "campaign to degrade this deadly terrorist group".

Sixteen people and companies in the Horn of Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus are targeted by the new US sanctions - which accuse them of money-laundering and deprive them of the right to own property in the US or have any business dealings with US citizens.

Among them are:

Haleel Commodities L.L.C.

Qemat Al Najah General Trading

Faysal Yusuf Dini

Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed

Farhan Hussein Hayder

It is not known if they intend to appeal.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Image: Reuters