The U.S. Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdullahi Banati or any other individual responsible for the January 5, 2020 terrorist attack on Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya. This initiative is part of the Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, managed by the Diplomatic Security Service.
During the early morning attack, al-Shabaab terrorists killed a U.S. service member and two contractors from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), while injuring two additional U.S. soldiers and another DoD contractor. A Kenyan soldier was also wounded in this incident. Al-Shabaab's official Shahada News Agency later released a video where a spokesperson claimed responsibility for the assault.
Manda Bay Airfield is situated within a Kenyan Defense Forces military base used by U.S. forces for training and counterterrorism efforts with East African partners, as well as crisis response and protection of U.S. interests in the region.
Al-Shabaab, identified as an affiliate of al-Qa’ida, has been linked to numerous attacks across Kenya, Somalia, and neighboring regions resulting in thousands of deaths including those of American citizens. The group remains active in planning terrorist activities against the United States and its allies.
In March 2008, al-Shabaab was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the Department of State. Further action was taken by the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee in April 2010 under resolution 1844 (2008).
The RFJ program encourages individuals with information regarding Abdullahi Banati or others involved in this attack to reach out via Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp using specific contact numbers provided on their website: www.rewardsforjustice.net. Confidentiality is assured for all informants.
Since its launch in 1984, RFJ has disbursed over $250 million to more than 125 individuals globally who have contributed actionable intelligence aiding U.S. national security efforts.
For further details or to submit tips online visit: https://go.rewardsforjustice.net/banati_en/.
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