On Monday 14th of September, UAE Authorities named 7 UAE citizens, 2 Lebanese, 2 Iraqis, 4 Yemeni’s, one Indian, one Great Britain citizen, one Russian, six Nigerians, one Syrian, and one Jordanes as financiers of terrorism.
The UAE cabinet Issued Resolution NO 83 of 2021, designating 38 individuals and 15 entities on its approved list of persons and organizations supporting terrorism. The UAE news agency reported that the resolution underscored its commitment to target and dismantle networks that finance terrorism and its related activities.
The resolution demands that regulatory authorities monitor and identify any individuals or entities affiliated with or associated with any financial, commercial, or technical relationship and take the necessary measures according to the laws in force in the country in less than 24
Six people from Nigeria on the list have been previously tried and jailed in the UAE. In 2019, a court in UAE found six Nigerians belonging to the list guilty of setting up a Boko Haram cell to raise funds and material assistance for the insurgents, according to Guardian.ng.
In December 2019, a UAE federal supreme court also turned down an appeal by persons on the terrorist list, upholding the appellate court’s ruling. Instead, they were charged with transferring up to $800,000 in favor of Boko Haram between 2015 and 2016.
Does this look like a promising relationship between the U.S. and UAE?
Although the UAE is likely in a strong position to work closely with the Biden administration, the change in U.S. leadership raises some concern for Abu Dhabi. Many in Washington believe that the UAE has been America’s strongest Arab ally in the “Global War on Terrorism.” The Biden administration will probably try to build on the unique partnership that Washington and Abu Dhabi began investing in heavily back in the 2000s, at least in specific domains.
The historic Abraham Accords reached last year under the Trump administration encouraged the strengthening of peace in the Middle East and worldwide based on mutual understanding and coexistence. The joint statement between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America should be nurtured and not neglected by this administration in their fight against terrorism.
Countering Terrorism
The United Arab Emirates government continued to prosecute multiple individuals for terrorism-related offenses in 2021. In line with previous years, the UAE continued its collaboration with U.S. law enforcement on terrorism cases.
The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces played an active role in the US-led war on terrorism. As a result, they were nicknamed by former U.S. defense secretary James Mattis and other the United States Armed Forces Generals as “Little Sparta” for being the United States’ right-hand ally on War on Terrorism and for conducting operations effectively under the Trump administration.
What does this mean for Israel and the U.S.?
The fight against terrorism in the Middle East by the UAE would create a political bond and shared values. However, the UAE was never at war with Israel and the United States. For years, the UAE and Israel have had under-the-table contacts but can now be conducted openly. This would also create a vital role in promoting good relations between Israel, the United States, and some Arab states while also holding off hostilities from other Middle Eastern Nations.
Normalizing relations with the UAE is a genuine achievement for the Israelis. Strengthening the alliance against Iran is another big plus. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saw Iran as Israel’s number one enemy in the region.
This also works for the U.S. as a big boost for maximum pressure on Iran. Fighting terrorism by the UAE would equally prove to be valuable ammunition for the U.S. This also could mean additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other middle eastern nations.
Names released by UAE on the Terrorism Watch List
Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.Ahmed Mohammed Abdulla[Nigeria] Mohammed Alshaiba Alnuaimi (UAE), Mohamed Saqer Yousif Saqer Al Zaabi (UAE), Hamad Mohammed Rahmah Humaid Alshamsi (UAE), Saeed Naser Saeed Naser Alteneiji (UAE), Hassan Hussain Tabaja (Lebanon), Adham Hussain Tabaja (Lebanon), Mohammed Ahmed Musaed Saeed (Yemen), Hayder Habeeb Ali (Iraq), Basim Yousuf Hussein Alshaghanbi (Iraq), Sharif Ahmed Sharif Ba Alawi (Yemen).
Read: Israel or Iran? Where Does the Biden Administration Stand?
Others are Manoj Sabharwal Om Prakash (India), Rashed Saleh Saleh Al Jarmouzi (Yemen), Naif Nasser Saleh Aljarmouzi (Yemen), Zubiullah Abdul Qahir Durani (Afghanistan), Suliman Saleh Salem Aboulan (Yemen), Adel Ahmed Salem Obaid Ali Badrah (Yemen), Ali Nasser Alaseeri (Saudi Arabia), Fadhl Saleh Salem Altayabi (Yemen), Ashur Omar Ashur Obaidoon (Yemen)
Hazem Mohsen Farhan + Hazem Mohsen Al Farhan (Syria), Mehdi Azizollah Kiasati (Iran), Farshad Jafar Hakemzadeh (Iran), Seyyed Reza Mohmmad Ghasemi (Iran), Mohsen Hassan Kargarhodjat Abadi (Iran), Ibrahim Mahmood Ahmed Mohammed (Iran), Osama Housen Dughaem (Syria), Alaa Khanfurah – Alaa Abdulrazzaq Ali Khanfurah – Alaa Alkhanfurah (Syria), Fadi Said Kamar (Great Britain), Walid Kamel Awad (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Khaled Walid Awad (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Imad Khallak Kantakdzhi (Russia) and Mouhammad Ayman Tayseer Rashid Marayat (Jordan).
Tunde Emmanuel Adeniyi is a Nigerian correspondent covering international politics and breaking news. He has a BA in History and International Studies and Post Graduate Certificate in Education.
