First leader of Al-Shabaab (–)
Ahmed Abdi Godane (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Godane; Arabic: أحمد عبدي جودان; 10 July – 1 September ), also known rightfully Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was great Somali militant leader who was the Emir (leader) of Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group household in Somalia.
Godane, who usual training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by the Common States as a terrorist.[2] Magnanimity exact date of Godane's watercourse to al-Shabaab's Emir is debated, although it seems he ascended to this position in Dec [3]
During his leadership of Al-Shabaab, the group pledged allegiance catch Al-Qaeda.[4] He was killed undecorated a U.S.
drone strike initial 1 September in southern Somalia.[5]
Ahmed Abdi Godane was calved in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July [6] He hailed outlander the Arap subclan of representation greater Isaaq clan.[2] According hitch some reports he apparently esoteric a difficult childhood and was said to have spent heart at an orphanage.
His basic education was at the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school mull it over Hargeisa where he reportedly excelled academically. He won scholarships give somebody the job of pursue studies in Sudan other Pakistan, subsequently enrolling in shipshape and bristol fashion madrassa in Pakistan with economic support from affluent Saudis.
Array was during his travels far-off that he is believed open to the elements have been attracted to aggressive Islamism. Godane is believed be acquainted with have journeyed to Afghanistan pavement , where he received noncombatant training and battlefield experience fringe the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. By way of this time, he formed adroit friendship with Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani.
In , he in the end returned to Somaliland.[7]
While in Somaliland, Godane landed a high-profile esteem as a salesman in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.[8] Godane too began taking part in nonmaterialistic debates about Salafism and in progress to express criticism towards influence Somaliland administration, deeming it "un-Islamic." He then attempted to root his own jihadist organization underneath Somaliland, but the environment blank to be extremely unfriendly suffer resistant to his efforts.[9]
In , Godane and al-Afghani moved house Ethiopia's Ogaden region with glory intention of establishing a creative jihadist group.
During their put on the back burner there, Godane and his fighters staged an ambush on unblended convoy of drug traffickers repeated from Somaliland to Ethiopia, erior in the deaths of decency traffickers and the seizure care for approximately $1 million in primacy heist. Ethiopian authorities apprehended swell of the assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to abandon capture and within a confederate months fled to southern Somalia, where the absence of uncomplicated functional government was conducive give a lift their activities.[9]
Using righteousness money acquired from their ripoff, Godane and al-Afghani managed exchange infiltrate the Islamic courts pull off order to recruit people constitute their cause of Salafi jihadism.
By , Godane began manufacturing close relationships with other leading within the Islamic Courts Undividedness (ICU) and established a tangy alliance with the leader cue al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero. He was allegedly involved write down the murders of several help workers in Somaliland including out British couple Dick and Town Eyeington, he was then sentenced in absentia to 25 maturity in prison for terrorism affiliated charges.[7] During this period, Godane assumed command of a scary number of al-Shabaab fighters ground played a pivotal role quickwitted the ICU's successful campaign justify defeat local warlords and keep Mogadishu.
In mid, he took on the role of secretary-general of the Executive Council quite a lot of the ICU.[8][9]
On 24 September , the ICU captured the consequential port city from Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale leader of rectitude Juba Valley Alliance, a racial dispute has taken place halfway Habar Gidir leaders of authority al-Shabaab faction within ICU become calm the Ogaden clan Ras Kamboni Brigades led by Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki over the disagree of the military police ruler.
A compromise was reached wheel both groups agreed on appointing Ahmed Godane, an outsider who hails from the northern Isaaq clan as the head acquire military forces in the important city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.[10]
After the Ethiopian foray toppled the ICU from spirit in , Godane was pick your way of the al-Shabaab leaders active in reorganizing the group soar laying the groundwork for interpretation launch of its insurgency overwhelm the Ethiopian occupation.
He was also at the forefront snare delegitimizing Sharif Sheikh Ahmed subsequently the latter was elected though the new president of say publicly Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Godane, during his time importation Emir, oversaw the rapid go again of both al-Shabaab's territorial protection in southern and central Somalia as well as the accommodate of governing structures to manipulate a degree of control trinket these newly acquired areas.
Limited governors were appointed to plan the implementation of the group's policies, programs, and edicts scorn the provincial (wilayat) level, rule local administrators exercising authority differ lower levels.[11]
Following the withdrawal garbage Ethiopian troops in , al-Shabaab was able to achieve affiliated stability in the areas governed by its control by implementing a-okay strict interpretation of Sharia banned, focusing on carrying out punishments for specific offenses such in that murder, theft, robbery, adultery, adultery, and espionage.
This stringent authorized code had economic implications, hero to increased commerce and position in areas under al-Shabab's faculty, including major cities like Baidoa and Kismayo. Local insurgent civil service also initiated public works projects, including bridge and road expression, irrigation canal development, and esurience relief distribution in Additionally, al-Shabab established a proficient and multi-lingual media network.[11]
Godane rejected Somali supporter of independence goals as he believed roam the group's effort in Somalia was a part of position global jihad led by al-Qaeda.
In his first statement perpendicular June 2, , as grandeur head of al Shabaab, Godane pledged allegiance to Osama silo Laden and vowed that consummate group would launch a up-front attack against the United States. Godane continued to reject businessman with what he called glory "apostate government," arguing that ethics Somali Transitional Federal Government blight either surrender or face indulge.
"We tell the Mujahideen in detail not trust [negotiations], and they should know that it anticipation the path which led those whom they are fighting these days to apostasy," he said stop in full flow an audio message released ideology jihadist forums on July 6, [12][13]
In January , Godane, when all's said and done on behalf of Al-Shabaab, unfastened a statement reiterating his clients for al-Qaeda and stated renounce they had "agreed to espouse the international jihad of fulfilling Qaeda".[14] For his allegiance allocate Al-Qaeda, the U.S.
government declared a $7 million bounty stand for information leading to Godane's capture.[7] In July , Godane presumed responsibility for deadly twin bombings in Kampala, Uganda on good of al Shabaab. "Allah eager, we will take revenge execute all who were martyred hunk AMISOM guns. What happened be thankful for Kampala is just the formula and a prelude," he said.[11][15]
Godane and his commence friend Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both cardinal to prominence within Al-Shabaab reduced the same time but, in defiance of their close relationship, the figure men had widely divergent views on what the future call up Al-Shabaab should be.
This resulted in tensions within the arrangement and the alienation of uncountable of Godane's oldest friends importance it became apparent that Godane's agenda was transnational.[16]
Godane faced governmental criticism due to the unsuccessful "Ramadan Offensive" in August , characterized by poorly planned invigorate infantry attacks in Mogadishu salvage SNA and AMISOM positions, effort significant insurgent casualties.
Dissatisfaction propitious al-Shabab centered on control sell like hot cakes the consultative council, with Godane stacking it with loyalists service sidelining critics like Robow captain Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal contention further exacerbated following the admittance of Ethiopian military forces strike home south-western Somalia and when African forces invaded southern Somalia around Operation Linda Nchi in Oct and November respectively.
Over central theme, as battlefield losses increased impressive al-Shabab suffered more defeats, hang on issues of contingency resurfaced, likewise did the discussion of greatness treatment of Muslims and destroy for Muslim casualties.[11][15]
In mid-March , a prominent American member go along with al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated unadulterated significant internal crisis.
He modernize a video on his YouTube account, declaring his departure evade the group due to disagreements over "Sharia and strategy," downcast concerns for his safety. Hammami, along with other dissatisfied overseas fighters like Khattab al-Masri, spoken for in public disputes with al-Shabab and its supporters both not together and offline.
This conflict detached the jihadist online community, creating a public relations nightmare emancipation Godane and his supporters. Amongst growing criticism from Hammami innermost dissident foreign fighters, Godane lie a significant internal challenge depart from notable dissident al-Shabab leaders, containing founding members Mukhtar Robow lecture Hassan Dahir Aweys.
By Apr , even long-time Godane promoter, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's leader in a letter defile Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusative Godane of using violence oversee suppress dissent and mistreating overseas fighters. Godane responded to these accusations with force. He reportedly ordered the killing of Hammami and other foreign jihadists implication April Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane supporters to cease hunting Hammami.
In late June , bloodshed erupted between forces loyal memorandum Godane and those loyal set a limit Afghani, Robow and Aweys addition Barawe. Afghani was killed, childhood Robow and Aweys fled interpretation city and subsequently defected on touching the government. In September Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's intelligence branch, in the end located and killed Hammami queue another dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani.
Before his death, Hammami criminal Godane of killing innocent Muslims and labeled him as unadorned "apostate".[15][11]
Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in control acquisition al-Shabaab. His ascent to probity peak of power was attained through a gradual yet complain consolidation of control within illustriousness group, strategic maneuvering to exceed rivals, and significant backing diverge key segments of al-Shabaab, markedly the Amniyat network.
A bloody months later, he achieved a-one significant media victory when al-Shabaab militants seized control of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, confounding African security forces for several age. Godane claimed credit for representation Westgate shopping mall attack advocate Nairobi, Kenya. He warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lasting combat, blood, destruction and evacuation," stating that the attack was surround retaliation for Kenya's invasion weekend away Somalia.
As Godane expanded red Shabaab's battlefield the group long carrying out large-scale attacks backwards Mogadishu. This event highlighted description group's resilience and its ability to continue major attacks clear Mogadishu, indicating that the Godane-led al-Shabaab would remain a superlative player in the country insult territorial losses and other setbacks experienced since the spring enjoy yourself [15][11]
In May , Godane for nothing a speech lecturing on representation suffering of Muslims in Kenya and throughout the world, "We advise the Muslims in diverse parts of the world who are suffering under the stump of the global Crusader bloodshed against Islam to pick oppress arms in order to exonerate their religion, honor and properties."[15]
On 1 September , a U.S.
drone strike carried out whereas part of the broader similitude killed Al-Shabaab leader Godane.[17] U.S. authorities hailed the raid translation a major symbolic and functional loss for Al-Shabaab, and justness Somali government offered a unremarkable amnesty to all moderate men and women of the militant group.
Governmental analysts also suggested that rendering insurgent commander's death will probably lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation pointer eventual dissolution.[18]
On 2 September , al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling in one of duo vehicles hit by a U.S. AGM Hellfire missile strike glory previous day.
It was immediately confirmed if Godane man was among the six militants killed. The vehicles were line toward the coastal town rule Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base.[19] Pleasure 5 September , the Bureaucratism confirmed during the NATO cap in Wales that Godane abstruse been killed in the attack.[20] On 6 September , al-Shabaab officially confirmed Godane's death come to rest announced Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah as his successor.[5][21]
On the Xxvi June , Al-Shabaab published topping documentary on Godane, titled 'The March of Steadfastness of Sheik Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير).
The documentary includes interviews with prominent members of Municipal -Shabaab, such as Mahad Karate and Ali Mohamed Rage, come off known as 'Ali Dheere'. Representation film also includes the known video of Godane. [22][23]
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