Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi

Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi is the former Intelligence Chief of Al-Shabaab's security wing. In 2014 he defected from Al Shabaab. He publicly disavowed ties to al-Shabaab, renounced violence, and fully took part in the peace process.

Background

Hersi was the Intelligence Chief of Al-Shabaab's security wing.[1] Zakariye Hersi's defection from Al-Shabaab in 2014 came after infighting occurred and many members were being purged.[2]

On 27 December 2014, a Somali intelligence officer indicated that senior al-Shabaab commander Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi ("Zaki") surrendered to local police in the southwestern Gedo province. According to the official, Hersi may have turned himself in after having fallen out earlier in the year with other al-Shabaab members loyal to the group's late leader Godane.[3]

Hersi was added to the "Rewards for Justice List" by the US State Department and was listed as 1 of the 7 Senior Leaders of Al-Shabaab.[4] He had a 3 million dollar bounty on him and played one of the most important roles in Al-Shabaab.[1]

On 8 March 2015, the US government officially removed Hersi from its Rewards for Justice List. The decision was reached after negotiations between the Somali federal government and US authorities, which concluded that the former insurgent commander had met the conditions unambiguously establishing that he was no longer associated with the militant group. This in turn came after Hersi had publicly disavowed ties to al-Shabaab, renounced violence, and fully took part in the peace process.[5]

References
  1. "Captured Shabaab official previously identified as group's 'chief of intelligence' | FDD's Long War Journal". December 27, 2014.
  2. "Severe Setbacks to al-Shabaab's Intelligence Service". February 22, 2015.
  3. "Wanted Extremist Leader Surrenders in Somalia". Associated Press. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  4. "7 Shabaab leaders added to Rewards for Justice most wanted list | FDD's Long War Journal". June 7, 2012.
  5. "Somalia welcomes US government's removal of al-Shabaab Defector from the Rewards for Justice List". Garowe Online. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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