The Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group Al-Shabab issued a scathing statement criticizing US policies in Somalia. The statement accused Washington of causing various problems for the Somali people and described the diplomatic ties between the US and Somalia as an animosity against the Somali people. Al-Shabab also accused the US of supporting corrupt Somali leaders. The statement specifically referenced the recent case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the US to officiate World Cup matches. This was used as an example of how the US treats Somalis.
