Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi Surrenders: Al-Shabab Militant Gives Himself Up

Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi also known as Sheikh Hassan “Turki” Abdullahi Hersi, who was a senior al-Shabaab leader, has turned himself in, according to Somalian authorities. It is believed that Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi along with other members of the Islamist terrorist group, carried out hundreds of deadly attacks in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. The Obama administration had offered $33 million in reward for information on seven al-Shabaab members.

Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi has surrendered to authorities in Somalia. On December 26th, Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, who also goes by the name Sheikh Hassan “Turki” Abdullahi Hersi, and one of his aides were arrested.

Hersi and his employee were taken into custody in Elwak, near the Kenyan-Somali border. According to Colonel Abbas Nur Gurey of the Somali defense forces, they were able to locate Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi after receiving an anonymous tip.

Hersi and his aide, who had been hiding in a hut in Elwak since October, did not resist arrest and; therefore, no bullets were fired. The official said in a brief statement:

“Al Shabaab leader Zakariya Ismail surrendered to government forces in El Wak, Gedo region. He is expected to be flown to Mogadishu tomorrow.”

While Gurey would not reveal why the general secretary of al-Shabaab’s finance department decided to surrender, many reports claimed that he left the al Qaeda-linked group more than two years ago. The terrorist organization confirmed that Hersi left the group in a statement that read:

“(Hersi) cannot have impact on al Shabaab because he is not a member.”

The arrest of Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi is the second major blow to al-Shabaab’s leadership this year. In September, the group’s main leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane aka Ahmed Abdi Aw Mohamed aka Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, was killed by a U.S. drone strike.

In retaliation for the killing of Godane, on Christmas Day, al-Shabaab launched an attack at the African Union base in Mogadishu that killed nine people including several soldiers.

The Obama administration is still hunting for Sheikh Abu Mukhtar Robow, Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud, Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, and Abdullahi Yare.