An airline company based in Johannesburg but registered in the British Virgin Islands has been involved in transporting al-Qa’ida recruits in Somalia, that directly challenged the interests of Western countries in East Africa. Recently published United Nations security council report has revealed the ways how Islamist fighters were flown from Somalia to Syria and Libya for military trainings, while other groups were taken to Lebanon to fight with Hezbollah.
BVI-registered company Aerolift, by words of its owner Mr Zakharov, became involved in providing military aid to the Islamists after the request of General Tambi of the Eritrean People’s Defence Forces. Eritrea is a neighbour of Somalia and a major supporter of the Islamists.
General Tambi offered to buy Ilyushin 76 transport aircraft belonging to Aerolift and having the Kazakhstan registration number UN76496, for $US1.5million ($1.9million). Normally an aircraft of that vintage and condition would cost just $US1million, and BVI company’s owner agreed, notwithstanding the unusual secrecy conditions stated in the contract.
Mr Zakharov included certain specifications in the contract that would prohibit to use the aircraft to make arms flights, but these contract terms were broken.
Mr Zakharov said in an interview: “We transported lots of men in uniform — Arab men with masks… They were disciplined men and although none of them had rank badges there were obviously people in charge. They got on the aircraft as if they had done it many times before.”
The information was provided by the BVI company’s owner when Western security services continued their investigation concerning foreigners suspected of fighting on behalf of Islamic forces in Somalia, and of joining al-Qa’ida last year. The security services’ officials have revealed that large number of foreigners went to Somalia, after the radical Islamic Courts Council movement took power from a weak UN-backed government. Under the rule of Islamic Courts Council , Somalia was allowed to be used as an al-Qa’ida terrorist training ground. The internationally recognised Government was restored in the country only in December.