MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab has issued a statement rejecting assertions from the Trump administration that Somalis in Minnesota are sending money to support the insurgents, accusing U.S. officials of scapegoating Somali-American community.
In an English-language statement dated 27 November 2025, the Al-Qaeda-aligned group said it “categorically rejects the baseless accusations made by the American crusaders who have alleged that the Somali residents of Minnesota are financing the Mujahideen. Not only are these accusations inflammatory and unfounded, but they are aimed at maligning the entire Somali community in order to portray them as a threat.”
The statement follows renewed claims from President Donald Trump and senior administration figures who have suggested that Somali-Americans help fund militant operations abroad. Community leaders in Minnesota have repeatedly denied any such links.
Al-Shabaab, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organisation, accused U.S. officials of fuelling hostility.
“Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen notes with concern the growing wave of hostility, discrimination and hate-filled rhetoric directed at Somalis by the US government, including the President Donald Trump. Such baseless claims merely seek to shift the blame onto the Somali community in the U.S. while deflecting attention away from the disastrous political failures and immense challenges facing the Trump administration,” the group said.
The group also framed the accusations as part of a long-standing pattern of U.S. animosity, alleging Washington has caused mass civilian casualties in Somalia since the 1990s. It said the new claims were designed to justify hate against Somali Americans.
While reiterating its commitment to fight U.S. forces, Al-Shabaab said it opposed the use of its name as a pretext for targeting Somali civilians.
“While Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujihadeen will not waver in its commitment to defend the religion, people and territorial integrity of Somalia against the disbelieving crusaders, spearheaded by the United States, it rejects any attempt to misuse its name to justify discrimination, suffering and harassment of the Somali people, both within Somalia and abroad,” it said.
U.S. officials have not yet formally responded to the latest statement.
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