US freezes assets of Garissa University attack masterminds

The US government has banned American citizens and firms from doing business with two Al-Shabaab leaders or entities associated with the two.

President Barack Obama's administration also froze any of the duo's assets which may be under US jurisdiction.

Ahmed Diriye, Al-Shabaab's leader since September last year, and Mahad Karate, who has played a key role in the group's intelligence wing, were blacklisted and designated as terrorists, the US State department announced.

The decision came as Kenya's Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Keriako Tobiko appointed five prosecutors to assist investigations into the Garissa University attack.

This follows Tuesday's request by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery that the DPP sends a team to assist in the probe.

Mr Karate, also known as Abdirahim Mohamed Warsame, played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of Al-Shabaab responsible for the recent attack on Garissa University that left 148 dead.

Amniyat is Al-Shabaab's intelligence wing, which plays a key role in the execution of suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya, and other countries in the region. It also provides logistical support for Al-Shabaab's terrorist activities.

The decision to blacklist the two came a day after an attack targeting a UN vehicle in north eastern Somalia killed seven people, including four UN staff members working with Unicef.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group was designated as a terrorist group by the US State Department in March 2008.

"As a result of this designation, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Mr Diriye or Karate has any interest is blocked and any assets they may have under US jurisdiction are frozen," the Department of State said in a statement.

According to the statement, Diriye became the leader of Al-Shabaab following the death of Ahmed Abdi Godane in September 2014.

Interior Department

Prior to replacing Mr Godane, Diriye served in several positions within Al-Shabaab, including as Godane's assistant, the deputy governor of Lower Juba region in 2008 and Al-Shabaab's governor of Bay and Bakool regions in 2009.

By 2013, he was a senior advisor to Godane, and served in Al-Shabaab's 'Interior Department', where he oversaw the group's domestic activity.

He shares Godane's vision for Al-Shabaab's terrorist attacks in Somalia as an element of Al-Qaida's greater global aspirations.

The group is responsible for numerous terrorist activities, including several mass-casualty attacks on civilians, like the 2010 Kampala bombing attacks in Uganda, the 2013 Westgate Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi, and the recent Garissa University attack.

On April 8, the Government of Kenya froze bank accounts belonging to 85 companies and individuals suspected of funding terrorism. Thirteen of them were money transfer companies, which the Government said were funding Al-Shabaab activities.

Nine top security commanders of Garissa County were earlier this week interdicted over the attack and may be prosecuted for various charges if investigations into their conduct ahead of the attack prove there was criminal negligence.

"I am convinced of the need for thorough investigations into the terrorist attack on the Garissa University College to establish possible criminal culpability of individual officers or relevant security committees," said Mr Nkaissery.