Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced that it had killed Faysal Yusuf Macallin Abdulle, a former head of Al-Shabaab's financial operations, in a planned operation conducted with international partners in the country's southern Lower Shabelle region. The operation took place on October 23 in Kuunyo Barrow. According to NISA, Abdulle oversaw the militant group's finances from 2014 to 2024 and remained closely connected to its senior leadership.
NISA identified Abdulle, also known as Abdikarim Horseed or Gaagaale, as a long-standing member of Al-Shabaab. The agency said Abdulle joined Al-Shabaab in 2007 while working at a shop in Mogadishu's Bakara Market, which served as cover for his activities within the group. He headed Al-Shabaab's financial office in the Banaadir region from 2007 to 2011, managing money collected through extortion.
Abdulle's role in Al-Shabaab's financial operations escalated over the years. He served as the group's chief accountant from 2011 to 2014 before becoming its top financial official. His tenure as financial chief ended in 2024, and he was succeeded by Abdullahi Hassan Abdi Cosoble, known as Abdullahi Wadaad.
NISA described the deaths of Abdulle and Abdullahi Wadaad, who was killed in a separate operation on January 23, 2026, as a major setback for Al-Shabaab's leadership and financial networks. The agency said it would continue targeting senior Al-Shabaab figures and disrupting networks involved in collecting money used to finance attacks against Somalis.
Al-Shabaab, affiliated with al-Qaida, has waged an insurgency against Somalia's federal government for over 15 years. The group has carried out bombings, assassinations, and attacks on security forces, government officials, and civilians. The militants also rely on extortion and forced taxation of businesses and communities to finance their operations.
The operation that resulted in Abdulle's death is part of NISA's ongoing efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab's financial and operational capabilities. The agency did not provide further details about the operation, including the methods used or whether other people were killed. The claims about Abdulle's role in Al-Shabaab and the circumstances of his death could not be independently verified.
The killing of Abdulle marks a significant achievement for NISA in its fight against Al-Shabaab. The agency's efforts to target and disrupt the group's financial networks are seen as crucial in weakening the militants' ability to carry out attacks and maintain their influence in the region.
Key points
- NISA killed Faysal Yusuf Macallin Abdulle, a former head of Al-Shabaab's financial operations, in a joint operation in the Lower Shabelle region.
- Abdulle oversaw Al-Shabaab's finances from 2014 to 2024 and remained closely connected to its senior leadership.
- The deaths of Abdulle and another senior financial official are a major setback for Al-Shabaab's leadership and financial networks.
