Tuesday June 3, 2025
In this handout photo provided by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), four men accused of aiding Al-Shabaab’s vehicle-borne bomb network are shown after being apprehended and brought before the military court in Mogadishu, Somalia. One of the suspects, Abdinasir Mohamed Hassan (far left), was sentenced to life in prison on June 3, 2025.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s military court on Tuesday sentenced a key Al-Shabaab operative to life in prison for manufacturing vehicle-borne explosive devices as part of a broader crackdown on militant support networks.
The convict, Abdinasir Mohamed Hassan, was found guilty of assembling car bombs for the extremist group and tampering with vehicle identification numbers to avoid detection. Prosecutors said he had carried out these activities since 2018 while earning a monthly salary of $240 from Al-Shabaab. He was also given a NOHA vehicle and operated a garage that served as a logistical front for the group’s operations.
Abdinasir was reportedly working under a commander identified as Khalid, according to court records.
The court also sentenced Maadey Abdi Hussein to two years in prison for his involvement in the network. He travelled to the Al-Shabaab stronghold of Kunya Barrow, where he spent a month repairing three vehicles before returning to Elasha Biyaha. The group paid him $400 and gave $50 to his uncle, Isse Maadey Abdi Hussein, who was sentenced to one year for aiding the group.
Meanwhile, Abdiqadir Ali Farah Tabliiq, who was accused of attempting to sell a vehicle to Al-Shabaab, was acquitted and released after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the transaction.
The court’s rulings come amid renewed efforts by Somali authorities to dismantle the militant group’s operational and logistical infrastructure. Al-Shabaab continues to carry out deadly attacks across the country despite losing territory to Somali and allied forces in recent offensives.