Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC have confirmed the arrest of Salim Rashid Mohammed alias Chotara or Turki Salim, a renowned Allied Democratic Forces-ADF propagandist, and media communication specialist.
Information from DRC shows that Mohammed was intercepted while trying to flee from his group following intensified operations by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF and DRC against ADF. He is currently locked up in Beni.
The 28-year-old Kenyan has been on Kenya’s most wanted list after skipping bail following his arrest in 2019 at Moi International Airport in Mombasa. Security said that he was on his way to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Isis.
He jumped bail after sneaking out of the country in 2020 and Kenya authorities put up a cash bounty of Ksh 10 million on his head. He had been sent Istanbul Kultur University in Turkey for Computer studies before he fled to Mozambique to join the Isis and later sneaked to DRC.
Following the joint attacks by the UPDF and the Congolese army- FADRC that started on November 30, last year, security sources said, Mohammed committed heinous crimes in Eastern DRC that he will be answerable for.
It is reported that he recruited many youths from Kenya into terror acts and planned their logistics to DRC by getting them temporary jobs as turn boys for trucks. Maj. Peter Mugisa, the spokesperson of Operation Shujaa, confirmed the news to URN on Monday, saying that Mohammed was intercepted at Mantumbi in Eringeti sector North Kivu province.
“For now, the suspect is in the hands of the DRC government but we are working closely to ensure that he faces the law,” Mugisa said. Mohammed’s father told Citizen TV in an interview that his son vanished two years ago and they all along didn’t know where he is.
He asked the Kenyan authorities to push for his extradition to face trial at home so that he can see his son.