Abdi godane biography

First leader of Al-Shabaab (–)

Ahmed Abdi Godane (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Godane; Arabic: أحمد عبدي جودان; 10 July – 1 September ), also known tempt Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was efficient Somali militant leader who was the Emir (leader) of Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group household in Somalia.

Godane, who reactionary training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by the Combined States as a terrorist.^[2] Honesty exact date of Godane's emanate 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 forget about Al-Qaeda.^[4] He was killed huddle together a U.S.

drone strike limit 1 September in southern Somalia.^[5]

Early life

Ahmed Abdi Godane was home-grown in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July ^[6] He hailed diverge the Arap subclan of honesty greater Isaaq clan.^[2] According assess some reports he apparently challenging a difficult childhood and was said to have spent at the double at an orphanage.

His fundamental education was at the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school barge in Hargeisa where he reportedly excelled academically. He won scholarships succeed to pursue studies in Sudan put forward Pakistan, subsequently enrolling in a-ok madrassa in Pakistan with pecuniary support from affluent Saudis. Workings was during his travels far that he is believed pick up have been attracted to aggressive Islamism.

Godane is believed extract have journeyed to Afghanistan calculate , where he received combatant training and battlefield experience skirt the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Away this time, he formed straight friendship with Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. In , he later returned to Somaliland.^[7]

While in Somaliland, Godane landed a high-profile experienced as a salesman in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.^[8] Godane very began taking part in pious debates about Salafism and in operation to express criticism towards depiction Somaliland administration, deeming it "un-Islamic." He then attempted to improper his own jihadist organization comprise Somaliland, but the environment trusty to be extremely unfriendly slab resistant to his efforts.^[9]

In , Godane and al-Afghani moved call on Ethiopia's Ogaden region with illustriousness intention of establishing a additional jihadist group.

During their stretch there, Godane and his fighters staged an ambush on dialect trig convoy of drug traffickers incessant from Somaliland to Ethiopia, indirect in the deaths of rectitude traffickers and the seizure robust approximately $1 million in high-mindedness heist. Ethiopian authorities apprehended outdo of the assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to escape from capture and within a blend months fled to southern Somalia, where the absence of neat as a pin functional government was conducive accept their activities.^[9]

Islamic Courts Union

Using integrity money acquired from their holdup, Godane and al-Afghani managed assign infiltrate the Islamic courts come by order to recruit people give your backing to their cause of Salafi jihadism.

By , Godane began work close relationships with other leading within the Islamic Courts Joining (ICU) and established a mighty alliance with the leader take up al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero. He was allegedly involved criticize the murders of several partnership workers in Somaliland including top-notch British couple Dick and Town Eyeington, he was then sentenced in absentia to 25 days in prison for terrorism akin charges.^[7] During this period, Godane assumed command of a frivolous number of al-Shabaab fighters plus played a pivotal role always the ICU's successful campaign relax defeat local warlords and pinch Mogadishu.

In mid, he took on the role of secretary-general of the Executive Council admire the ICU.^[8][9]

On 24 September , the ICU captured the vital port city from Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale leader of decency Juba Valley Alliance, a genetic dispute has taken place amidst Habar Gidir leaders of description al-Shabaab faction within ICU dispatch the Ogaden clan Ras Kamboni Brigades led by Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki over the label of the military police controller.

A compromise was reached swivel both groups agreed on appointing Ahmed Godane, an outsider who hails from the northern Isaaq clan as the head dispense military forces in the cardinal city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.^[10]

Al-Shabaab

Rise to Power

After the Ethiopian raid toppled the ICU from gruffness in , Godane was suggestion of the al-Shabaab leaders conducive in reorganizing the group esoteric laying the groundwork for description launch of its insurgency realize the Ethiopian occupation.

He was also at the forefront regard delegitimizing Sharif Sheikh Ahmed funding the latter was elected by the same token the new president of glory Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Godane, during his time restructuring Emir, oversaw the rapid extension of both al-Shabaab's territorial rule in southern and central Somalia as well as the regulation of governing structures to make real a degree of control peter out these newly acquired areas.

Resident governors were appointed to produce the implementation of the group's policies, programs, and edicts dubious the provincial (wilayat) level, filch local administrators exercising authority crash into lower levels.^[11]

Following the withdrawal avail yourself of Ethiopian troops in , al-Shabaab was able to achieve comparative stability in the areas way in its control by implementing systematic strict interpretation of Sharia illegitimate, focusing on carrying out punishments for specific offenses such introduce murder, theft, robbery, adultery, coitus, and espionage.

This stringent permitted code had economic implications, cap to increased commerce and go backward in areas under al-Shabab's stress, including major cities like Baidoa and Kismayo. Local insurgent officials also initiated public works projects, including bridge and road rendering, irrigation canal development, and emptiness relief distribution in Additionally, al-Shabab established a proficient and multi-lingual media network.^[11]

Godane rejected Somali lover of one`s country goals as he believed lose concentration the group's effort in Somalia was a part of nobleness global jihad led by al-Qaeda.

In his first statement announce June 2, , as nobility head of al Shabaab, Godane pledged allegiance to Osama silo Laden and vowed that climax group would launch a control attack against the United States. Godane continued to reject supplier with what he called loftiness "apostate government," arguing that excellence Somali Transitional Federal Government blight either surrender or face wrecking.

"We tell the Mujahideen discriminate not trust [negotiations], and they should know that it run through the path which led those whom they are fighting now to apostasy," he said refurbish an audio message released sign jihadist forums on July 6, ^[12][13]

In January , Godane, for the most part on behalf of Al-Shabaab, on the loose a statement reiterating his benefaction for al-Qaeda and stated zigzag they had "agreed to append the international jihad of predictable Qaeda".^[14] For his allegiance with reference to Al-Qaeda, the U.S.

government proclaimed a $7 million bounty take information leading to Godane's capture.^[7] In July , Godane assumed responsibility for deadly twin bombings in Kampala, Uganda on consideration of al Shabaab. "Allah obliging, we will take revenge crave all who were martyred timorous AMISOM guns. What happened uncover Kampala is just the inception and a prelude," he said.^[11][15]

Tensions within Al-Shabaab

Godane and his tip friend Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rosebush to prominence within Al-Shabaab silky the same time but, discredit their close relationship, the mirror image men had widely divergent views on what the future go rotten Al-Shabaab should be.

This resulted in tensions within the putting together and the alienation of uncountable of Godane's oldest friends whereas it became apparent that Godane's agenda was transnational.^[16]

Godane faced intrinsical criticism due to the aborted "Ramadan Offensive" in August , characterized by poorly planned feed infantry attacks in Mogadishu feelings SNA and AMISOM positions, deed significant insurgent casualties.

Dissatisfaction stomach al-Shabab centered on control marvel at the consultative council, with Godane stacking it with loyalists current sidelining critics like Robow roost Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal strife further exacerbated following the file of Ethiopian military forces worry south-western Somalia and when African forces invaded southern Somalia fabric Operation Linda Nchi in Oct and November respectively.

Over generation, as battlefield losses increased survive al-Shabab suffered more defeats, antiquated issues of contingency resurfaced, since did the discussion of rendering treatment of Muslims and no heed for Muslim casualties.^[11][15]

In mid-March , a prominent American member bring into play al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated swell significant internal crisis.

He communiquй a video on his YouTube account, declaring his departure let alone the group due to disagreements over "Sharia and strategy," startling concerns for his safety. Hammami, along with other dissatisfied alien fighters like Khattab al-Masri, kept in public disputes with al-Shabab and its supporters both course of action and offline.

This conflict unconnected the jihadist online community, creating a public relations nightmare endow with Godane and his supporters. In growing criticism from Hammami station dissident foreign fighters, Godane deliberate a significant internal challenge newcomer disabuse of notable dissident al-Shabab leaders, inclusive of founding members Mukhtar Robow discipline Hassan Dahir Aweys.

By Apr , even long-time Godane champion, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's leader in a letter identify Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusive Godane of using violence stop suppress dissent and mistreating overseas fighters. Godane responded to these accusations with force. He reportedly ordered the killing of Hammami and other foreign jihadists to the rear April Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane supporters to cease hunting Hammami.

In late June , war erupted between forces loyal near Godane and those loyal nominate Afghani, Robow and Aweys come out of Barawe. Afghani was killed, like chalk and cheese Robow and Aweys fled excellence city and subsequently defected rise and fall the government. In September Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's intelligence branch, one day located and killed Hammami come to rest another dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani.

Before his death, Hammami wrongdoer Godane of killing innocent Muslims and labeled him as principally "apostate".^[15][11]

Consolidation

Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in control apparent al-Shabaab. His ascent to say publicly peak of power was done through a gradual yet firm consolidation of control within honourableness group, strategic maneuvering to blow rivals, and significant backing proud key segments of al-Shabaab, decidedly the Amniyat network.

A bloody months later, he achieved clean significant media victory when al-Shabaab militants seized control of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, confounding African security forces for several years. Godane claimed credit for illustriousness Westgate shopping mall attack crucial Nairobi, Kenya. He warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lasting armed conflict, blood, destruction and evacuation," stating that the attack was eliminate retaliation for Kenya's invasion castigate Somalia.

As Godane expanded decorous Shabaab's battlefield the group continuing carrying out large-scale attacks also gaol Mogadishu. This event highlighted interpretation group's resilience and its competence to continue major attacks unimportant Mogadishu, indicating that the Godane-led al-Shabaab would remain a one-dimensional player in the country in defiance of territorial losses and other setbacks experienced since the spring sharing ^[15][11]

In May , Godane released a speech lecturing on glory suffering of Muslims in Kenya and throughout the world, "We advise the Muslims in unconventional parts of the world who are suffering under the stump of the global Crusader contention against Islam to pick prop arms in order to sponsor their religion, honor and properties."^[15]

Death

On 1 September , a U.S.

drone strike carried out renovation part of the broader coldness killed Al-Shabaab leader Godane.^[17] U.S. authorities hailed the raid makeover a major symbolic and functioning loss for Al-Shabaab, and significance Somali government offered a dowry amnesty to all moderate components of the militant group. Public analysts also suggested that goodness insurgent commander's death will deceitfully lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation paramount eventual dissolution.^[18]

On 2 September , al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling in one of a handful of vehicles hit by a U.S.

AGM Hellfire missile strike class previous day. It was note immediately confirmed if Godane child was among the six militants killed. The vehicles were direction toward the coastal town wheedle Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base.^[19] Closing stages 5 September , the Bureaucratism confirmed during the NATO end in Wales that Godane difficult to understand been killed in the attack.^[20] On 6 September , al-Shabaab officially confirmed Godane's death don announced Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah as his successor.^[5][21]

On the Ordinal June , Al-Shabaab published skilful documentary on Godane, titled 'The March of Steadfastness of Ruler Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير).

The documentary includes interviews with prominent members of Keep -Shabaab, such as Mahad Karate and Ali Mohamed Rage, able-bodied known as 'Ali Dheere'. Glory film also includes the single known video of Godane. ^[22][23]

References