Overview

Mahad Karate is the U.S.-designated deputy emir of al-Shabaab. Given Karate’s leadership position with the extremist group, Karate was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of State on April 21, 2015.“Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, April 21, 2015, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20150421. In November 2022, the State Department offered a reward of $10 million—double the $5 million previously offered in November 2015—for information leading to the capture of Karate.“U.S. offers $27 mln in rewards for information on al Shabaab commanders,” Reuters, November 11, 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/somalia-usa-idAFL8N1363AN20151111; “Mahad Karate,” Rewards for Justice Program, November 18, 2022,  https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/mahad-karate/.

According to scholars who specialize on al-Shabaab’s activities and membership, Karate and current al-Shabaab emir Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah were both considered for the role of emir in September 2014 following the death of emir Ahmed Godane in a U.S. missile attack. Abu Ubaidah ultimately came out as victor, leaving Karate to run the Aminyat—al-Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing that is also responsible for the extremist group’s suicide bombing unit.Harun Maruf and Dan Joseph, “No End in Sight for the al-Shabaab Threat to Somalia,” Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, December 2018, https://ctc.westpoint.edu/no-end-sight-al-shabaab-threat-somalia/. According to the U.S. State Department, Karate also commands responsibility over the group’s finances.“Mahad Karate,” Rewards for Justice Program, November 18, 2022,  https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/mahad-karate/.

The Amniyat has played a central role in carrying out suicide attacks and assassinations in not only Somalia, but also Kenya and other countries in the region. During Karate’s tenure, the Amniyat was responsible for the April 2, 2015 attack on Garissa University College in Kenya. The attack—in which gunmen killed 150 and specifically targeted Christian students—is al-Shabaab’s deadliest attack in Kenya to date.“Who are Somalia's al-Shabab?” BBC News, December 9, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15336689; “Kenya's Garissa university reopens after deadly al-Shabab attack,” BBC News, January 4, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35221137. Shortly after the Garissa University attack, on April 10, 2015, the U.S. Department of State designated Karate as a SDGT for his leadership role in al-Shabaab.“Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, April 21, 2015, https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20150421. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program also announced up to $5 million for information on Karate on November 11, 2015.“U.S. offers $27 mln in rewards for information on al Shabaab commanders,” Reuters, November 11, 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/somalia-usa-idAFL8N1363AN20151111.

Despite the designation, Karate continued to direct Amniyat attacks throughout Somalia, and in January 2016, the Amniyat ambushed a Kenyan army base in El Adde, Somalia. The ambush killed more than 100 soldiers.Tom Odula and Abdi Guled, “Kenya army: Air raid kills al-Shabab’s intelligence chief,” Associated Press, February 18, 2016, https://apnews.com/article/8247ebf4916c4b46ada9fa454c400930. Media reports later circulated in February 2016 claiming that Karate, along with 50 other militants, was killed in a Kenyan airstrike targeting an Amniyat training camp. However, al-Shabaab denied there was any strike and a Somali intelligence source stated doubts regarding Karate’s death.Robyn Kriel, Radina Gigova and Ben Brumfield, “Al-Shabaab intelligence head killed, says Kenya, but doubts persist,” CNN, February 20, 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/19/africa/al-shabaab-figure-killed/index.html.

Media sources remained mum regarding Karate’s activities until February 26, 2021, when the U.N. Security Council added Karate to its sanctions list for his role in al-Shabaab’s activities.“MAHAD KARATE,” United Nations Security Council, February 26, 2021, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/mahad-karate. A year later in May 2022, Karate was interviewed on Channel 4, a U.K. broadcasting network. During the interview, Karate commented on the incompatibility of Islam and democracy, stating “the truth is, on this earth, nobody has achieved their principles, systems, and administration by being peaceful…Democracy is a religion for non-Muslims. It’s against our beliefs and identity. We are Muslims. Islam and democracy cannot be compatible.”Jamal Osman, “Inside Al-Shabaab: The Extremist Group Trying to Seize Somalia,” Channel 4, June 15, 2022, https://www.channel4.com/news/inside-al-shabaab-the-extremist-group-trying-to-seize-somalia.

As Karate continues to direct fatal activities and narratives on behalf of al-Shabaab, on November 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program doubled their reward—now $10 million—for information leading to the identification or capture of Karate.“Rewards for Justice – Reward Offers for Information on Key Leaders of al-Shabaab Ahmed Diriye, Mahad Karate, and Jehad Mostafa, and the Disruption of its Financial Mechanisms,” U.S. Department of State, November 18, 2022, https://www.state.gov/rewards-for-justice-reward-offers-for-information-on-key-leaders-of-al-shabaab-ahmed-diriye-mahad-karate-and-jehad-mostafa-and-the-disruption-of-its-financial-mechanisms/.