US imposes special sanctions against ISIS leader in Somalia

The US has imposed sanctions on Abdiqadir Mumin who heads the Islamic State (Isis) in Somalia.

The State Department termed Mumin a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

Mumin is a former recruiter for the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group. He pledged allegiance to Isis in October.

"He has set up his cell in the north-eastern Somali region of Puntland and has expanded it by kidnapping young boys aged 10 to 15, indoctrinating them and forcing them to take up militant activity," a statement said.

The designation of Mumin as SDGT was made under Executive Order (EO) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and groups who have committed, or pose a risk of committing acts of terrorism, threatening the security of US nationals, its national security, foreign policy or the economy.

The action notifies the US public and the international community that Mumin is actively engaged in terrorism. This gives an indication that Isis is slowly gaining ground in Somalia and East Africa at large.

Mumin is the leader of a group of individuals in East Africa with ties to Isis, the Department of State said.

Kenya has charged almost a dozen people for trying to join the group in Somalia. The latest arrests were made on Sunday when two medical interns at the Malindi Hospital in Kilifi County were arrested for alleged links with the terror group.

The court has allowed the police to detain the two, identified as Mohamed Shukri Yerrow and Abdulrazak Abdinuur, for 30 days as investigations into their actions continue.