A TOP leader of Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab rebels, intelligence chief Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, has surrendered to government and African Union forces and is now in custody, officials said Saturday. The militant is the subject of a US$3 million ($3.25 million) bounty as part of the US State Department’s ‘Rewards for Justice’ program, and officials said he surrendered in the Gedo region, where Somalia borders Kenya and Ethiopia.
“Zakariya Ahmed was a very senior person who worked with Godane,” said regional military official Jama Muse, referring to former Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed by a US air strike in September.
“He was in charge of intelligence and finances. He was one of the senior Al-Shebab commanders who the Americans put a lot of money on their head,” he added. Another Somali military official, Mohamed Osmail, said the militant was hiding in a house in the border town in the El-Wak area, and made contact with government officials in order to hand himself in.
“Zakariya Ahmed was a very senior person who worked with Godane,” said regional military official Jama Muse, referring to former Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed by a US air strike in September.
“He was in charge of intelligence and finances. He was one of the senior Al-Shebab commanders who the Americans put a lot of money on their head,” he added. Another Somali military official, Mohamed Osmail, said the militant was hiding in a house in the border town in the El-Wak area, and made contact with government officials in order to hand himself in.
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