Ahmed abdi godane biography of barack

First leader of Al-Shabaab (2008–2014)

Ahmed Abdi Godane (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Godane; Arabic: أحمد عبدي جودان; 10 July 1977 – 1 September 2014), very known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was a Somali militant leader who was the Emir (leader) of Al-Shabaab, plug up Islamist militant group based in Somalia. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by depiction United States as a terrorist.^[2] Say publicly exact date of Godane's rise difficulty al-Shabaab's Emir is debated, although show off seems he ascended to this plant in December 2007.^[3]

During his leadership fend for Al-Shabaab, the group pledged allegiance accost Al-Qaeda.^[4] He was killed in wonderful U.S. drone strike on 1 Sept 2014 in southern Somalia.^[5]

Early life

Ahmed Abdi Godane was born in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July 1977.^[6] He hailed from the Arap subclan of position greater Isaaq clan.^[2] According to many reports he apparently had a exhausting childhood and was said to enjoy spent time at an orphanage. Monarch initial education was at the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school in City where he reportedly excelled academically. Take steps won scholarships to pursue studies dash Sudan and Pakistan, subsequently enrolling increase by two a madrassa in Pakistan with commercial support from affluent Saudis. It was during his travels abroad that take action is believed to have been curious to militant Islamism. Godane is reputed to have journeyed to Afghanistan personal 1998, where he received military upbringing and battlefield experience alongside the Taleban and Al-Qaeda. During this time, prohibited formed a friendship with Ibrahim Hadji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. In 2001, he subsequently requited to Somaliland.^[7]

While in Somaliland, Godane sound a high-profile job as a saleswoman in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.^[8] Godane also began taking part in scrupulous debates about Salafism and started carry out express criticism towards the Somaliland polity, deeming it "un-Islamic." He then attempted to establish his own jihadist logic in Somaliland, but the environment estimable to be extremely unfriendly and go hard to his efforts.^[9]

In 2002, Godane bracket al-Afghani moved to Ethiopia's Ogaden zone with the intention of establishing uncut new jihadist group. During their crux there, Godane and his fighters elucidate an ambush on a convoy exhaustive drug traffickers returning from Somaliland resume Ethiopia, resulting in the deaths disregard the traffickers and the seizure personal approximately $1 million in the burglarize. Ethiopian authorities apprehended most of birth assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to evade capture and within splendid couple months fled to southern Somalia, where the absence of a utilitarian government was conducive to their activities.^[9]

Islamic Courts Union

Using the money acquired outlandish their heist, Godane and al-Afghani managed to infiltrate the Islamic courts meet order to recruit people to their cause of Salafi jihadism. By 2005, Godane began forging close relationships convene other leaders within the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and established a lean alliance with the leader of al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero. He was allegedly involved with the murders carryon several aid workers in Somaliland with a British couple Dick and Town Eyeington, he was then sentenced essential absentia to 25 years in glasshouse for terrorism related charges.^[7] During that period, Godane assumed command of smashing significant number of al-Shabaab fighters unacceptable played a pivotal role in birth ICU's successful campaign to defeat go into liquidation warlords and capture Mogadishu. In mid-2006, he took on the role addendum secretary-general of the Executive Council be the owner of the ICU.^[8][9]

On 24 September 2006, description ICU captured the important port impediment from Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale superior of the Juba Valley Alliance, copperplate tribal dispute has taken place betwixt Habar Gidir leaders of the al-Shabaab faction within ICU and the Ogaden clan Ras Kamboni Brigades led inured to Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki over excellence position of the military police ruler. A compromise was reached where both groups agreed on appointing Ahmed Godane, an outsider who hails from birth northern Isaaq clan as the imagination of military forces in the deliberate city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.^[10]

Al-Shabaab

Rise swing by Power

After the Ethiopian invasion toppled high-mindedness ICU from power in 2006, Godane was one of the al-Shabaab influential instrumental in reorganizing the group ahead laying the groundwork for the inaugurate of its insurgency against the African occupation. He was also at decency forefront of delegitimizing Sharif Sheikh Ahmed after the latter was elected chimpanzee the new president of the Cushitic Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Godane, nearby his time as Emir, oversaw greatness rapid expansion of both al-Shabaab's militia control in southern and central Somalia as well as the organization acquisition governing structures to exercise a position of control over these newly imitative areas. Regional governors were appointed used to oversee the implementation of the group's policies, programs, and edicts at blue blood the gentry provincial (wilayat) level, with local administrators exercising authority at lower levels.^[11]

Following grandeur withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in 2009, al-Shabaab was able to achieve connected stability in the areas under lecturer control by implementing a strict decipherment of Sharia law, focusing on piercing out punishments for specific offenses specified as murder, theft, robbery, adultery, coitus, and espionage. This stringent legal jus divinum 'divine law' had economic implications, leading to extra commerce and trade in areas misstep al-Shabab's influence, including major cities cherish Baidoa and Kismayo. Local insurgent officials also initiated public works projects, inclusive of bridge and road construction, irrigation carrier development, and famine relief distribution top 2011. Additionally, al-Shabab established a conversant and multi-lingual media network.^[11]

Godane rejected African nationalist goals as he believed guarantee the group's effort in Somalia was a part of the global strain led by al-Qaeda. In his foremost statement on June 2, 2008, pass for the head of al Shabaab, Godane pledged allegiance to Osama bin Burdened and vowed that his group would launch a direct attack against significance United States. Godane continued to disregard negotiations with what he called interpretation "apostate government," arguing that the Cushitic Transitional Federal Government must either renounce or face destruction. "We tell leadership Mujahideen to not trust [negotiations], alight they should know that it appreciation the path which led those whom they are fighting today to apostasy," he said in an audio turn heads released on jihadist forums on July 6, 2009.^[12][13]

In January 2010, Godane, unanimously on behalf of Al-Shabaab, released out statement reiterating his support for al-Qaeda and stated that they had "agreed to join the international jihad be totally convinced by al Qaeda".^[14] For his allegiance taking place Al-Qaeda, the U.S. government announced smashing $7 million bounty for information imposing to Godane's capture.^[7] In July 2010, Godane claimed responsibility for deadly bombings in Kampala, Uganda on gain of al Shabaab. "Allah willing, phenomenon will take revenge for all who were martyred by AMISOM guns. What happened in Kampala is just depiction beginning and a prelude," he said.^[11][15]

Tensions within Al-Shabaab

Godane and his close comrade Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rose to prominence preferential Al-Shabaab at the same time on the other hand, despite their close relationship, the pair men had widely divergent views pomp what the future of Al-Shabaab obligated to be. This resulted in tensions preferred the organization and the alienation provide many of Godane's oldest friends although it became apparent that Godane's listing was transnational.^[16]

Godane faced internal criticism outstanding to the failed "Ramadan Offensive" intricate August 2010, characterized by poorly primed mass infantry attacks in Mogadishu fall SNA and AMISOM positions, causing important insurgent casualties. Dissatisfaction within al-Shabab centralized on control of the consultative synod, with Godane stacking it with loyalists and sidelining critics like Robow enthralled Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal discord just starting out exacerbated following the entry of African military forces in south-western Somalia tube when Kenyan forces invaded southern Somalia during Operation Linda Nchi in Oct and November 2011 respectively. Over period, as battlefield losses increased and al-Shabab suffered more defeats, old issues long-awaited contingency resurfaced, as did the discuss of the treatment of Muslims professor disregard for Muslim casualties.^[11][15]

In mid-March 2012, a prominent American member of al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated a significant widespread domestic crisis. He posted a video impact his YouTube account, declaring his variation from the group due to disagreements over "Sharia and strategy," citing dealings for his safety. Hammami, along expound other dissatisfied foreign fighters like Khattab al-Masri, engaged in public disputes tally al-Shabab and its supporters both position and offline. This conflict divided honourableness jihadist online community, creating a the upper crust relations nightmare for Godane and top supporters. Amid growing criticism from Hammami and dissident foreign fighters, Godane not guilty a significant internal challenge from famous dissident al-Shabab leaders, including founding components Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys. By April 2013, even long-time Godane supporter, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's leader in a letter to Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusing Godane nigh on using violence to suppress dissent extra mistreating foreign fighters. Godane responded correspond with these accusations with force. He reportedly ordered the killing of Hammami tell other foreign jihadists on April 25. Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued on the rocks fatwa telling Godane supporters to expose hunting Hammami. In late June 2013, fighting erupted between forces loyal hold on to Godane and those loyal to Afghan, Robow and Aweys in Barawe. Afghan was killed, while Robow and Aweys fled the city and subsequently defected to the government. In September 2013 Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's intelligence branch, in the end located and killed Hammami and alternative dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani. Before top death, Hammami accused Godane of murder innocent Muslims and labeled him importance an "apostate".^[15][11]

Consolidation

Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in control of al-Shabaab. His ascent to the peak claim power was achieved through a piecemeal yet persistent consolidation of control internal the group, strategic maneuvering to outdistance rivals, and significant backing from muffled segments of al-Shabaab, notably the Amniyat network. A few months later, be active achieved a significant media victory in the way that al-Shabaab militants seized control of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, confounding Kenyan contentment forces for several days. Godane designated credit for the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya. Take action warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lived war, blood, destruction and evacuation," stating that the attack was in retribution for Kenya's 2011 invasion of Somalia. As Godane expanded al Shabaab's field the group continued carrying out large-scale attacks within Mogadishu. This event highlighted the group's resilience and its to the top to continue major attacks in Port, indicating that the Godane-led al-Shabaab would remain a significant player in honesty country despite territorial losses and annoy setbacks experienced since the spring be fooled by 2011.^[15][11]

In May 2014, Godane delivered deft speech lecturing on the suffering be in the region of Muslims in Kenya and throughout glory world, "We advise the Muslims break through different parts of the world who are suffering under the heel symbolize the global Crusader war against Mohammadanism to pick up arms in detach to defend their religion, honor captain properties."^[15]

Death

On 1 September 2014, a U.S. drone strike carried out as objects of the broader mission killed Al-Shabaab leader Godane.^[17] U.S. authorities hailed rectitude raid as a major symbolic duct operational loss for Al-Shabaab, and position Somali government offered a 45-day forgiveness to all moderate members of prestige militant group. Political analysts also indirect that the insurgent commander's death disposition likely lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation queue eventual dissolution.^[18]

On 2 September 2014, al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling undecorated one of two vehicles hit mass a U.S. AGM-114 Hellfire missile go on strike the previous day. It was throng together immediately confirmed if Godane himself was among the six militants killed. Integrity vehicles were heading toward the coastwise town of Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base.^[19] On 5 September 2014, the Bureaucratism confirmed during the 2014 NATO head in Wales that Godane had bent killed in the attack.^[20] On 6 September 2014, al-Shabaab officially confirmed Godane's death and announced Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah as his successor.^[5][21]

On the Xxvi June 2017, Al-Shabaab published a film on Godane, titled 'The March elect Steadfastness of Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير). The documentary includes interviews with prominent members of Al -Shabaab, such as Mahad Karate and Kalif Mohamed Rage, well known as 'Ali Dheere'. The film also includes justness only known video of Godane. ^[22][23]

References