Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, a former head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) of Somalia, has linked Qatar with Al-Shabaab.
Ali, who is more affectionately known as Sanbalolshe, said that Qatar played a prominent role in this month’s release of a kidnapped Italian aid worker, Silvia Romano.
Al-Shabaab kidnapped Romano 18 months ago while in Kenya. The militia then transferred her to Somalia from where she was set free and taken back to Italy.
Additionally, Sanbalolshe has claimed that Qatar sponsored Al-Shabaab for years. He says the militia has offered logistical, intelligence, and financial support to the Al-Qaeda linked group.
He said, “It is no longer news that Qatar has developed ties with extremist groups around the world, whom it also continues to support financially.”
Sanbalolshe was fired from his job when the extremists stormed Hotel Nasa Hablod on October 29 last year.