Somalia negotiates US over its decision to shut down Somali remittance

By Mohamed Abdi Farah

The US government has long been suspecting that money sent by the Somalis in America is falling in the hands of Al-Shabaab, a group ties with Al-Qaeda.

The decision by the United States government in which it is planning to block the Somali remittance system in America will be a catastrophic that faces the lives of millions of Somalis who depend on the money received from their relatives in abroad, Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said on Sunday.

The premier said his government is now involving in diplomatic efforts aimed to call off the US decision of suspending the Somali bank system (hawala).

“I had telephone contacts with some of US senators to convince them that the American banks should not stop cooperating with the Somali remittances because if this happens it would be economic problem on the Somali society,” he said.

Mr. Ali pointed out that as a nation they are going to discuss with the US government over the security concerns by preventing any terror threats on the national security in America. He indicated his government would not allow those who use the remittance money through wrong thoughts
“It is an obligation to keep the rules and stability in America because Somalis work and earn income within the US and it is not to harass the money with where you get from,” he said.

The US government has long been suspecting that money sent by the Somalis in America is falling in the hands of Al-Shabaab, a group ties with Al-Qaeda. To prevent this, the US Federal Department is taking precautions to monitor all the Somali bank systems in America.

The current prime minister, Somali-American citizenship, stated the money the people in Somalia get from their families in abroad is an essential economical source to the people’s lives. “The money sent from the abroad is estimated to be one third of the country’s yearly income,” he added.
The government is making sure that the remittance money from overseas must not go to the Somalia militants groups that have link with the international terror network.

Source: The Suna Times