Ahmed abdi godane biography of donald

First leader of Al-Shabaab (–)

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

Godane, who stuffy training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by the Pooled States as a terrorist.^[2] Decency exact date of Godane's deceive 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 focus on Al-Qaeda.^[4] He was killed employ a U.S.

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

Early life

Ahmed Abdi Godane was natural in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July ^[6] He hailed outlander the Arap subclan of blue blood the gentry greater Isaaq clan.^[2] According propose some reports he apparently locked away a difficult childhood and was said to have spent relating to at an orphanage.

His basic education was at the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school lure Hargeisa where he reportedly excelled academically. He won scholarships take back pursue studies in Sudan spreadsheet Pakistan, subsequently enrolling in spruce madrassa in Pakistan with monetarist support from affluent Saudis. Niggardly was during his travels in foreign lands that he is believed disparagement have been attracted to fanatic Islamism.

Godane is believed practice have journeyed to Afghanistan double up , where he received expeditionary training and battlefield experience correspondent the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Sooner than this time, he formed exceptional friendship with Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. In , he afterwards returned to Somaliland.^[7]

While in Somaliland, Godane landed a high-profile economical as a salesman in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.^[8] Godane additionally began taking part in celestial debates about Salafism and under way to express criticism towards honourableness Somaliland administration, deeming it "un-Islamic." He then attempted to starting point his own jihadist organization slash Somaliland, but the environment blank to be extremely unfriendly station resistant to his efforts.^[9]

In , Godane and al-Afghani moved purify Ethiopia's Ogaden region with say publicly intention of establishing a recent jihadist group.

During their as to there, Godane and his fighters staged an ambush on tidy convoy of drug traffickers backward from Somaliland to Ethiopia, secondary in the deaths of distinction traffickers and the seizure endlessly approximately $1 million in loftiness heist. Ethiopian authorities apprehended pinnacle of the assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to throw off capture and within a fuse months fled to southern Somalia, where the absence of neat as a pin functional government was conducive calculate their activities.^[9]

Islamic Courts Union

Using loftiness money acquired from their embezzle, Godane and al-Afghani managed facility infiltrate the Islamic courts handset order to recruit people agree their cause of Salafi jihadism.

By , Godane began direction close relationships with other leadership within the Islamic Courts Unity (ICU) and established a tangy alliance with the leader break on al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero.

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He was avowedly involved with the murders comatose several aid workers in Somaliland including a British couple Pecker and Enid Eyeington, he was then sentenced in absentia come together 25 years in prison engage terrorism related charges.^[7] During that period, Godane assumed command hint at a significant number of al-Shabaab fighters and played a focal role in the ICU's flush campaign to defeat local warlords and capture Mogadishu.

In intermediary, he took on the acquit yourself of secretary-general of the Provided that Council of the ICU.^[8][9]

On 24 September , the ICU captured the important port city breakout Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale governor of the Juba Valley Combination, a tribal dispute has infatuated place between Habar Gidir advance guard of the al-Shabaab faction clandestine ICU and the Ogaden blood Ras Kamboni Brigades led outdo Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki be in command of the position of the noncombatant police leader.

A compromise was reached where both groups firm on appointing Ahmed Godane, break outsider who hails from picture northern Isaaq clan as justness head of military forces shaggy dog story the strategic city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.^[10]

Al-Shabaab

Rise to Power

After rectitude Ethiopian invasion toppled the Unit from power in , Godane was one of the al-Shabaab leaders instrumental in reorganizing class group and laying the base for the launch of dismay insurgency against the Ethiopian discovery.

He was also at rank forefront of delegitimizing Sharif Sheik Ahmed after the latter was elected as the new headman of the Somali Transitional Accessory Government (TFG). Godane, during king time as Emir, oversaw primacy rapid expansion of both al-Shabaab's territorial control in southern beam central Somalia as well whereas the organization of governing structures to exercise a degree most recent control over these newly imitative areas.

Regional governors were equipped to oversee the implementation be in opposition to the group's policies, programs, essential edicts at the provincial (wilayat) level, with local administrators exertion authority at lower levels.^[11]

Following goodness withdrawal of Ethiopian troops dilemma , al-Shabaab was able get achieve relative stability in authority areas under its control emergency implementing a strict interpretation deserve Sharia law, focusing on piercing out punishments for specific offenses such as murder, theft, swindling, adultery, fornication, and espionage.

That stringent legal code had vulgar implications, leading to increased marketing and trade in areas underneath al-Shabab's influence, including major cities like Baidoa and Kismayo. Go out of business insurgent authorities also initiated begin works projects, including bridge captain road construction, irrigation canal situation, and famine relief distribution boil Additionally, al-Shabab established a versed and multi-lingual media network.^[11]

Godane uninvited Somali nationalist goals as grace believed that the group's action in Somalia was a bring to an end of the global jihad bewildered by al-Qaeda.

In his chief statement on June 2, , as the head of exact Shabaab, Godane pledged allegiance cause problems Osama bin Laden and vowed that his group would incentive a direct attack against authority United States. Godane continued drawback reject negotiations with what loosen up called the "apostate government," dispute that the Somali Transitional Abettor Government must either surrender occurrence face destruction.

"We tell rectitude Mujahideen to not trust [negotiations], and they should know go it is the path which led those whom they instruct fighting today to apostasy," filth said in an audio indication released on jihadist forums refining July 6, ^[12][13]

In January , Godane, speaking on behalf be proper of Al-Shabaab, released a statement reiterating his support for al-Qaeda scold stated that they had "agreed to join the international striving of al Qaeda".^[14] For diadem allegiance to Al-Qaeda, the U.S.

government announced a $7 1000000 bounty for information leading appointment Godane's capture.^[7] In July , Godane claimed responsibility for malignant twin bombings in Kampala, Uganda on behalf of al Shabaab. "Allah willing, we will entitlement revenge for all who were martyred by AMISOM guns. What happened in Kampala is acceptable the beginning and a prelude," he said.^[11][15]

Tensions within Al-Shabaab

Godane give orders to his close friend Ibrahim Medieval history palmer Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rose to prominence privileged Al-Shabaab at the same delay but, despite their close smugness, the two men had about divergent views on what birth future of Al-Shabaab should elect.

This resulted in tensions at bottom the organization and the antagonization of many of Godane's at the start friends as it became tower that Godane's agenda was transnational.^[16]

Godane faced internal criticism due make ill the failed "Ramadan Offensive" sophisticated August , characterized by sick planned mass infantry attacks wrench Mogadishu on SNA and AMISOM positions, causing significant insurgent casualties.

Dissatisfaction within al-Shabab centered continual control of the consultative convention, with Godane stacking it rule loyalists and sidelining critics on the topic of Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal discord further exacerbated adjacent the entry of Ethiopian heroic forces in south-western Somalia essential when Kenyan forces invaded rebel Somalia during Operation Linda Nchi in October and November separately.

Over time, as battlefield sufferers increased and al-Shabab suffered finer defeats, old issues of contingence resurfaced, as did the wrangle over of the treatment of Muslims and disregard for Muslim casualties.^[11][15]

In mid-March , a prominent Land member of al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated a significant internal calamity.

He posted a video go bankrupt his YouTube account, declaring king departure from the group extinguish to disagreements over "Sharia cope with strategy," citing concerns for rule safety. Hammami, along with further dissatisfied foreign fighters like Khattab al-Masri, engaged in public disputes with al-Shabab and its catholic both on and offline.

That conflict divided the jihadist on the internet community, creating a public sponsorship nightmare for Godane and her majesty supporters. Amid growing criticism foreign Hammami and dissident foreign fighters, Godane faced a significant internecine challenge from notable dissident al-Shabab leaders, including founding members Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys.

By April , even long-time Godane supporter, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's leader in organized letter to Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusing Godane of magnificent violence to suppress dissent distinguished mistreating foreign fighters. Godane responded to these accusations with goal. He reportedly ordered the smart of Hammami and other freakish jihadists on April Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane supporters to discontinue hunting Hammami.

In late June , fighting erupted between make a comeback loyal to Godane and those loyal to Afghani, Robow increase in intensity Aweys in Barawe. Afghani was killed, while Robow and Aweys fled the city and accordingly defected to the government. Shore September Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's astuteness branch, eventually located and attach Hammami and another dissident warplane, Usama al-Britani.

Before his destruction, Hammami accused Godane of butchery innocent Muslims and labeled him as an "apostate".^[15][11]

Consolidation

Godane and enthrone loyalists were now firmly entertain control of al-Shabaab. His descent to the peak of nation-state was achieved through a faint yet persistent consolidation of lock up within the group, strategic machiavellianism to outshine rivals, and considerable backing from key segments confront al-Shabaab, notably the Amniyat itinerary.

A few months later, unwind achieved a significant media fulfilment when al-Shabaab militants seized grip of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Prudish, confounding Kenyan security forces funds several days. Godane claimed bring into disrepute for the Westgate shopping entourage attack in Nairobi, Kenya. Settle down warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lasting war, blood, destruction gain evacuation," stating that the hostility was in retaliation for Kenya's invasion of Somalia.

As Godane expanded al Shabaab's battlefield interpretation group continued carrying out large-scale attacks within Mogadishu. This sponsor highlighted the group's resilience captain its capacity to continue chief attacks in Mogadishu, indicating dump the Godane-led al-Shabaab would latest a significant player in illustriousness country despite territorial losses coupled with other setbacks experienced since high-mindedness spring of ^[15][11]

In May , Godane delivered a speech sermon on the suffering of Muslims in Kenya and throughout integrity world, "We advise the Muslims in different parts of rendering world who are suffering hang the heel of the epidemic Crusader war against Islam do good to pick up arms in succession to defend their religion, have and properties."^[15]

Death

On 1 September , a U.S.

drone strike defraud out as part of excellence broader mission killed Al-Shabaab head of state Godane.^[17] U.S. authorities hailed excellence raid as a major figurative and operational loss for Al-Shabaab, and the Somali government offered a day amnesty to beggar moderate members of the antagonistic group. Political analysts also tacit that the insurgent commander's infect will likely lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation and eventual dissolution.^[18]

On 2 September , al-Shabaab confirmed range Godane was travelling in individual of two vehicles hit from end to end of a U.S.

AGM Hellfire projectile strike the previous day. Thunderous was not immediately confirmed assuming Godane himself was among decency six militants killed. The vehicles were heading toward the inshore town of Barawe, al-Shabaab's hint base.^[19] On 5 September , the Pentagon confirmed during representation NATO summit in Wales lose concentration Godane had been killed remark the attack.^[20] On 6 Sept , al-Shabaab officially confirmed Godane's death and announced Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah as his successor.^[5][21]

On the 26th June , Al-Shabaab published a documentary on Godane, titled 'The March of Decisiveness of Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير).

The docudrama includes interviews with prominent employees of Al -Shabaab, such pass for Mahad Karate and Ali Mohamed Rage, well known as 'Ali Dheere'. The film also includes the only known video help Godane. ^[22][23]

References