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The Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on Friday (June 8th) welcomed the United States' offer of millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to the capture of top al-Shabaab leaders.

"The announcement from the United States government today to put a price [of] $7 million bounty on the head of the terrorist leader of al-Shabaab will certainly help the Somali government efforts to end al-Qaeda's reign of terror in Somalia," the TFG said in a statement.

The US Department of State added seven top leaders of the al-Qaeda allied al-Shabaab movement to its Rewards for Justice programme on Thursday.

The highest amount was offered for the founder of the group, Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed, known as Ahmed Godane or Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair, with the US State Department offering a $7 million reward for information on his whereabouts.

The TFG said Godane is "responsible for the killing of innocent civilians across Somalia, including a series of terror attacks that al-Shabaab operated in neighboring countries".

A further $5 million was offered for other al-Shabaab members -- Ibrahim Haji Jama, Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud and Mukhtar Robow.

Up to $3 million was offered for Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi and Abdullahi Yare.

"This is an important juncture in Somali history, where the possibility of full recovery from years of chaos is within reach," the statement said. "The Somali government calls for the international community to continue supporting the institutions to ensure that Somalia wins the battle against al-Qaeda, who are defeated with the support of Somali people."

The Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa administration in central Somalia also welcomed the United States' bounty offer, calling it a step forward in the fight against al-Shabaab, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported on Friday.