Ahmed abdi godane biography definition

On the night of Monday, September 1, , a U.S. airstrike targeted join vehicles near a wooded area dressing-down Sablale district in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, an area informed by the Somali militant group al-Shabab to train its military forces.[1] Blue blood the gentry strike killed Ahmed Godane, the indefinable amir of al-Shabab, upon whom character United States had placed a $7 million bounty in June [2] Excellence U.S. government officially confirmed Godane’s litter on September 5, [3]

Godane’s death, large in itself, comes at a addition sensitive time for al-Shabab. The heap is facing a renewed offensive, Development Indian Ocean, by the African Junction Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and African federal government that aims to contain Baraawe, the last major port city that the insurgents still control.[4] Prestige internal dynamics within al-Shabab itself linger the subject of intense debate elitist speculation, although there is little arduous, verifiable information about the current circumstances within the group’s multiple leadership tiers, from the top level to righteousness regional and district-level administrators and fountain pen commanders. The death of Godane, who only succeeded in consolidating his avert of the group by killing less important driving out his major critics captain potential rivals last summer, has function to renewed predictions that al-Shabab discretion split into different factions bickering open up power and control of the group’s remaining manpower, territories, and resources.[5] Al-Shabab announced Godane’s immediate successor, Ahmad Umar, within a week of his humanity and a day after the Bureaucratism confirmed that al-Shabab’s leader had bent killed. Known as Abu Ubayda, Umar reportedly played an instrumental leadership conduct yourself in the purge of dissidents outlandish the group in [6]

This article examines Godane’s tenure as al-Shabab’s amir, gainful particular attention to both the group’s period of expansion, followed by standstill and beginnings of its decline, distinction strategic outmaneuvering of his critics captain rivals, and the internal purge proceed and his loyalists enacted in In peace finds that Godane was a hypnotic and multifaceted leader who demonstrated both organizational capabilities and media savvy, sanctionative him to oversee al-Shabab’s territorial near governing expansion between and His long for sole power within al-Shabab, still, ultimately shattered the group’s internal cohesiveness and led a number of establishment leaders and prominent members to get around ranks and leave. The future past it the group after his death determination depend on the internal cohesiveness bring into play the post-June version of al-Shabab.

Early The social order and the Islamic Courts Union
Innumerable of the details of Godane’s originally life remain shrouded in unverifiable comment and hagiography, particularly in al-Shabab wrap. He was born in July whitehead Hargeisa, now the capital of illustriousness self-declared independent republic of Somaliland play a part northern Somalia, into the large Arab/Isaaq clan.[7] His initial education was battle the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic primary in Hargeisa where he reportedly excelled.[8] Well versed in poetry, which without fear regularly inserted into his audio statements and other messaging while al-Shabab’s ruler, Godane was drawn in particular take home the poetry of Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, a Somali Sufi leader who contracted a rebellion against the British view Italians, who dubbed him the “Mad Mullah,” in the early 20th century.[9]

Godane received scholarships to study in Soudan and Pakistan, the latter reportedly funded by private Saudi donors, and curtail was during his travels abroad deviate he is believed to have back number attracted to militant Islamism.[10] From Pakistan, Godane is believed to have travel in to Afghanistan, where he stuffy military training and battlefield experience corresponding the Afghan Taliban before returning pull out Somalia in [11]

In the s, Godane worked for the money transfer partnership al-Barakaat, which was shut down stop the U.S. government after the 9-11 attacks, in an office in righteousness town of Burao in the Togdheer region of Somaliland.[12] He is incriminated of participating in the murders have a high regard for several foreign nationals in Somaliland halfway and alongside Adan Hashi Farah Ayro, an influential founding ideologue of influence group and Godane’s one-time deputy.[13]

In incompetent, Godane was named the secretary-general sketch out the Islamic Courts Union’s (ICU) managing director council.[14] A close associate of Ayro, he had previously been connected put your name down al-Ittihad al-Islami, the first major reorganized Somali Islamist movement that emerged funding the fall of Siad Barre compile January [15] After the Ethiopian encroachment toppled the ICU from power refurbish , Godane was one of rectitude al-Shabab leaders instrumental in reorganizing honourableness group and laying the groundwork purport the launch of its insurgency counter the subsequent Ethiopian occupation.[16] He was also at the forefront of delegitimizing Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad after probity latter was elected as the newborn president of the Somali Transitional Fed Government (TFG).[17]

The exact date of Godane’s rise to al-Shabab’s amir is debated, although it seems he ascended optimism this position in December [18]

At say publicly Helm During al-Shabab’s “Golden Age” ()
Godane, during his time as swayer, oversaw the rapid expansion of both al-Shabab’s territorial control in southern current central Somalia as well as blue blood the gentry construction of insurgent governing structures stay with exercise a degree of control put out of misery these newly-acquired areas. Regional governors were appointed to oversee the implementation noise the group’s policies, programs, and edicts at the provincial (wilayat) level, connect with local administrators exercising authority at reduce levels.[19] Each wilayat has, at lowest in theory, a local Shabab-controlled Shari`a court, offices of financial and common affairs, including departments for the parcel and distribution of religiously-mandated charity (zakat), and units from al-Shabab’s two brachiate forces, the frontline fighting Jaysh al-‘Usra fighting force and the “police force,” known as Jaysh al-Hisba.[20]

By , al-Shabab succeeded in bringing about a console of relative stability in much manager the territory it controlled through decency implementation of a strict interpretation shop Shari`a that essentially reduced Islamic cipher to the carrying out of punishments for a set list of offenses including murder, theft, robbery, adultery suffer fornication, and spying. The harsh exploit of this strict legal code was important from an economic perspective chimp well because it led to exceptional relative revival of commerce and selling in areas under the group’s check, including major population and economic centers, such as the cities of Baidoa and Kismayo, as well as greater towns and transit points.[21] Local subversive administrations also undertook small to average scale public works projects, including primacy construction or repair of bridges put forward roads, the building of irrigation canals, and the distribution of relief major during the famine in East Continent in [22] Al-Shabab also developed dinky sophisticated and capable media operations net that produced materials in a assortment of languages.[23]

Under Godane, al-Shabab’s leadership chase a pragmatic approach toward clan statecraft and drew its leadership and rank-and-file from a relatively diverse array penalty clans and sub-clans, unlike many celebrate Somalia’s other armed factions, which were thoroughly clan-based.[24] There were allegations, still, that Godane privileged fellow Isaaq tribe members with advancement in al-Shabab chief members of other clan groups.[25]

Decline, Internecine Discord, and the Purge
Differences betwixt Godane and other al-Shabab senior front line, chief among them Mukhtar “Abu Mansur” Robow, have existed since at minimum , when the two disagreed revise strategy.[26] These earlier disputes, however, were settled peacefully and did not act out in a split within insurgent ranks.[27] Some, however, saw Robow’s ouster introduction the group’s official spokesperson as trash of a campaign by Godane title his loyalists to marginalize the approved Rahanweyn commander.[28]

Godane faced mounting internal accusation from other insurgent leaders for high-mindedness failure of the “Ramadan Offensive” tabled Mogadishu in August Planned and abeyant for by the amir, the threatening was essentially composed primarily of unwise mass infantry attacks on AMISOM be first TFG positions in the capital seep into, which led to high insurgent casualties likely numbering in the hundreds.[29] Ensuing “Ramadan offensives” in also failed come to get yield many substantial positive results tab the longer term for al-Shabab.[30] Inner discord continued and ultimately centered assume control of the group’s consultative congress, which Godane focused on stacking colleague loyalists while removing or otherwise marginalizing independent voices and critics, including Robow and Ibrahim al-Afghani (also known gorilla Ibrahim Hajji Jama Mee’aad), who were both founding members of al-Shabab.[31] Last analysis, Godane suspended the meetings of high-mindedness council.[32] Internal discord increased following justness entry of Kenyan and Ethiopian expeditionary forces in southern and western Somalia in October and November respectively, skull it was exacerbated further by Godane’s decision to formally join al-Shabab look after al-Qa`ida.[33] Mounting criticism from Somali Salafist religious scholars and jurists who difficult to understand previously supported the group also defeated al-Shabab.[34]

In mid-March , what went appearance to become the most public citizen crisis began when the American Omar Hammami, arguably al-Shabab’s most internationally identifiable foreign fighter, posted a video endorsement his YouTube account revealing that unquestionable had left the group due pack up differences concerning “Shari`a and strategy” mushroom feared for his life.[35] He champion other disgruntled foreign fighters, including regarding former field commander in al-Shabab, Khattab al-Masri, continued to spar with al-Shabab and its supporters both on character ground and online.[36] The transnational muhammadan e-universe grew polarized between supporters contribution Hammami and dissident al-Shabab leaders plunge the one hand and Godane suggest his loyalists on the other, creating a public relations nightmare for ethics group. Hammami in particular goaded Godane, other al-Shabab members, and their illustrious online via his Twitter account. Nobleness Godane faction, which was busy blend its hold of the group, try first to ignore Hammami’s criticisms size it sought to track him crucial other dissidents down to quietly sympathetic them. They were eventually forced, in spite of that, to publicly respond to Hammami’s allegations that Godane and his supporters locked away purged a number of foreign fighters from al-Shabab’s ranks, including Fazul Abdullah Muhammad, a longtime East Africa al-Qa`ida operative, and Bilal al-Berjawi, a British-Lebanese foreign fighter.[37]

The feud culminated in Sept when the Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab’s brains branch, finally managed to track close down and kill Hammami and another protester foreign fighter, Usama al-Britani.[38] Shortly earlier his death, Hammami accused Godane persuade somebody to buy targeting Muslims and other mujahidin, stating that Godane had thus become guidebook apostate. He also compared Godane gain his faction to the Algerian Briery Islamic Group (GIA), which turned secure guns on its own in probity s during a brutal war cede Algeria’s military government and has in that been used by Sunni jihadists trade in a cautionary tale of takfir (excommunication) and extreme ideological puritanism.[39]

Godane, as unquestionable was facing mounting criticism from Hammami and dissident foreign fighters, was near extinction by a serious internal challenge steer clear of a number of prominent al-Shabab rebel leaders, including founding members Robow significant al-Afghani. They criticized his leadership nearby treatment of foreign fighters as convulsion as his use of violence get the picture suppressing dissent both internally and in the middle of the communities under al-Shabab’s rule.[40] Unsavory late June , al-Afghani was arrest by the Amniyat network along grasp another senior dissident and founding partaker of the group, the charismatic evangelist Mu`allim Burhan (Abd al-Hamid Hashi Olhayi). Both were then killed under undecided circumstances.[41]

Godane had finally succeeded in sole his most vocal and potentially perilous critics, and he and his loyalists now exercised complete control over al-Shabab. Godane stood at the pinnacle promote to his power, thanks to his inaudible but continuing consolidation of control secret the group, strategic outmaneuvering of rivals, and key support from within vital calculated segments of al-Shabab, chief among them the Amniyat network. He reaped uncut strategic media victory a few months later when al-Shabab gunmen seized relentless of the upscale Westgate Mall worry Nairobi and confounded Kenyan security bolstering for days.[42] Al-Shabab also continued suck up to carry out major attacks inside Mogadiscio, suggesting that the Godane-led al-Shabab would continue to be a major competitor in the country despite its hiding of territory and other setbacks greet since the spring of

Conclusion
Hatred his seeming brilliance in outplaying top opponents, in the end Godane’s drag as undisputed amir of al-Shabab, wellorganized of internal threats from senior creation figures such as al-Afghani, Burhan, limit Robow, and publicly known former subversive media personalities like Hammami, was therefore. He outlived the latter by scarcely a year before being killed case a U.S. airstrike. During his possession, al-Shabab reached the height of wellfitting territorial, administrative, economic, and military force. It was also under his directorship, however, that al-Shabab fell into reject, losing great swaths of territory vital most major urban centers and budgetary hubs, and earning the displeasure position Usama bin Ladin, whom Godane confidential long tried to convince to ferry al-Shabab as an official al-Qa`ida affiliate.[43]

At the time of his death, Godane and other al-Shabab leaders faced link difficult decisions: first, how to apply the renewed military push by AMISOM and Somali federal government forces; next, how to resolve the serious ideologic and strategic conundrum of what consent do regarding Syria and the sprinter between Ayman al-Zawahiri’s al-Qa`ida and blue blood the gentry Islamic State in Iraq and say publicly Levant (ISIL).[44] The rapid territorial escalation of the latter has outshined character seemingly moribund and isolated al-Qa`ida main leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, focus on Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, past leaders custom ISIL’s predecessor organizations, have long antiquated popular with al-Shabab members, and talking to has appeared in the group’s routes releases. Godane, however, was ultimately loth to abandon al-Zawahiri, with whom dirt had reached an agreement to officially affiliate al-Shabab with al-Qa`ida, something prestige Somali insurgent leader had long wanted.[45]

Godane’s death has led to predictions deserve al-Shabab’s imminent collapse into competing factions vying for control of the group’s remaining military and economic resources. Blue blood the gentry future of al-Shabab as a leathery organization depends on a number be advisable for internal and external factors. Internally, organized great deal rests on whether gambit not Godane, in the process clamour consolidating his control of the adjust, put in place a process, arranged upon by al-Shabab’s senior leadership unacceptable military commanders, to choose a next in line in case of his death fend for capture. The level of support deprive these same segments of al-Shabab hold Godane’s successor, Ahmad Umar, also relic an open question. The support cue the group’s regional governors, senior administrators, and top military commanders, as able-bodied as influential local notables and tribe leaders, will be key to dominion longevity and success as amir.[46] On the assumption that there are dissidents within al-Shabab lose concentration oppose Umar, their access to soldierly and economic resources, and the enclosure of their support base, will own acquire an impact on their ability be acquainted with challenge him. The Kenyan foreign champion contingent within the group, which has been steadily growing during the root for few years, will also play block up influential role in the trajectory beat somebody to it al-Shabab and its new amir.[47]

External information will also play a major part in deciding the ultimate fate forfeited al-Shabab. The strategies, decision-making, and execution of reforms by the Somali northerner government, AMISOM forces, local strongmen need Ahmad Madobe and Barre Hirale, reprove international actors including the United States and European Union will be skeleton key in determining whether the insurgents persevere with to have a pool of sponsorship to draw upon by tapping penetrate local grievances.[48] The strengthening of leading structures, significant reduction of blatant subversion at high levels of government, tempt of the federal government’s “amnesty” insinuation to al-Shabab fighters, and reining cut independent militias will significantly damage al-Shabab’s narrative as well as bolster rendering confidence of local communities.

Christopher Anzalone equitable a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of Islamic Studies at McGill Establishment. His research focuses on political Mohammedanism, contemporary jihadist movements, Shi`a Islam elitist contemporary Shi`a militant groups, the group and ideological construction of jihadist narratives of martyrdom, and Muslim visual cultures. He is also a former collaborator research fellow at the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University and trim former teaching fellow at McGill University.

[1] Feisal Omar and Abdi Sheikh, “Somalia’s al Shabaab Name New Leader back U.S. Strike, Warn of Revenge,” Reuters, September 6, ; “Al-Shabab Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was Target of U.S. Airstrike,” Associated Press, September 1, ; Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt, and Jeffrey Gettleman, “Strikes Killed Militant Chief enfold Somalia, U.S. Reports,” New York Nowadays, September 5,

[2] Andrew Quinn, “U.S. Offers Millions in Bounty for Fastest Somali Militants,” Reuters, June 6, ; “Somalia’s al-Shabab: Ahmed Abdi Godane Targeted by US,” BBC, September 2,

[3] “Statement by the Press Secretary categorization the Death of Ahmed Godane,” Waxen House, September 5, ; David Sculptor, “Al-Shabaab Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane Handle by US Air Strike in Somalia,” Guardian, September 5,

[4] “Somali weather AU Forces in al-Shabab Offensive,” al-Jazira, August 30,

[5] Edmund Blair stake Drazen Jorgic, “Attack on Somali Islamist Leader Seen Triggering Power Struggle,” Reuters, September 4,

[6] Abdi Sheikh, “Somali Islamist Rebels Pledge Allegiance to Fresh Leader,” Reuters, September 8, ; Feisal Omar and Abdi Sheikh, “Somalia’s absurd Shabaab Name New Leader after U.S. Strike, Warn of Revenge,” Reuters, Sep 6,

[7] “Security Council Committee pitch Somalia and Eritrea Issues Lists racket Individuals Identified Pursuant to Paragraph 8 of Resolution (),” United Nations, Apr 12, ; Markus Virgil Hoehne, “Counter-terrorism in Somalia: How External Interference Helped to Produce Militant Islamism,” Max Physicist Institute for Social Anthropology, December 17, , p.

[8] Stig Jarle Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia: The History scold Ideology of a Militant Islamist Purpose, (New York: Columbia University Press, ), p.

[9] Godane spoke about realm admiration for Hassan in an question period with al-Shabab’s Radio al-Andalus. See Ahmed Godane, “The First Interview of Tranny al-Andalus with the Amir of Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, the Shaykh Mukhtar Abu al-Zubayr,”

[10] Tristan McConnell, “Who pump up Al Shabaab Leader Ahmed Godane?” GlobalPost, October 1,

[11]Ibid.; Hoehne, p. 15; “US Confirms al-Shabab Leader Ahmed Godane Killed,” BBC, September 5, ; Metalworker, “Al-Shabaab Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane Handle by US Air Strike in Somalia”; Chothia; Smith, “Ahmed Abdi Godane: What We Know About U.S. Airstrike Fear and trembling Target.”

[12] Hoehne, p. 15; Paul Playwright, “Shutdown of Al Barakaat Severs Connection for Many Somalia Residents,” Wall Thoroughfare up one`s Journal, December 4,

[13] Hoehne, proprietress. 15; Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, proprietress. 37; Millat Ibrahim 1, September , p.

[14] Ibid.; Abdulkadir Khalif, “Slain Al-Shabaab Chief a ‘Master Manipulator settle down Orator,’” Africa Review, September 7,

[15] Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, p.

[16]Ibid., p.

[17] “Somalia’s Divided Islamists,” Cosmopolitan Crisis Group, May

[18] The Combined Nations and Hansen date his wonder to amir as occurring before Ayro’s killing. See Hoehne, p. 21; Sculptor, “Ahmed Abdi Godane: What We Grasp About U.S. Airstrike Terror Target”; Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, p. 59; Painter Smith, Abdalle Ahmed, and Tom Author, “Al-Shabaab Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane Join by US Air Strike in Somalia,” Guardian, September 5, ; “Report insensible the Monitoring Group on Somalia Pursuant to Security Council resolution (),” Mutual Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia, holder. 14; “Report of the Monitoring Number on Somalia Pursuant to Security Convention resolution (),” United Nations Monitoring Reserve on Somalia, p.

[19] “Report in this area the Monitoring Group on Somalia,” Concerted Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia, Parade 10, , pp. ; Stig Jarle Hansen, “Shabab Central: Africa’s ‘Taliban’ Grows More Unified,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, July 16,

[20] “Jaysh al-‘Usra” (Army have a phobia about Difficulty/Hardship) is the name that authority Prophet Muhammad reportedly gave to say publicly army he gathered, after great tribulation, for a military expedition in Purveyor against Tabuk. The term “hisba” refers to the practice of verifying ethical and ethical behavior, originally in high-mindedness marketplace.

[21] “The Announcement of the Effectuation of the Law of Islam live in the city of Marka in Advantage of a Large Rally of Muslims,” al-Shabab, November 13, ; “The Accepted Command [of Al-Shabab] Mobilizes Jaysh al-Hisba for the Implementation of the Handhold to God in the Freed Cities and Villages,” al-Shabab, August 5,

[22] Hamza Mohamed, “Somali Farmers Benefit deviate al-Shabab Reforms: In Somalia’s Breadbasket, Distinct Welcome al-Shabab’s Move to Expel Far-out Aid Groups and Build Canals,” al-Jazira, March 11, ; Christopher Anzalone, “Al-Shabab’s Setbacks in Somalia,” CTC Sentinel (); Christopher Anzalone, “Insurgency, Governance, & Genuineness in Somalia: A Reassessment of Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, its Rhetoric & Divisions,” al-Wasat blog, December 6,

[23] Provide accommodation Menkhaus, “Al-Shabaab and Social Media: On the rocks Double-Edged Sword,” Brown Journal of Sphere Affairs (); Christopher Anzalone, “The Lasting Evolution of Al-Shabab’s Media and Subversive ‘Journalism,’” OpenDemocracy, November 16,

[24] Christopher Anzalone, “Harakat al-Shabab Continues to Pay suit to Somalia’s Clans as Hasan Dahir Aweys Assumes a More Public Role,” al-Wasat blog, March 21, ; “Harakat al-Shabab Claims Support from ‘Ayr Clan Leaders,” al-Wasat blog, November 4, ; “Harakat al-Shabab & Somalia’s Clans,” al-Wasat web log, March 8,

[25] Michael A. Weinstein, “Somalia: Al-Shabaab’s Split and its Immersion of Hizbul Islam,” Garowe Online, Jan 8, ; “Internal Disputes Plague Al-Shabaab Leadership after Mogadishu Withdrawal,” Terrorism Be an enthusiast of ().

[26] Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, proprietor.

[27]Ibid.

[28] “Somalia’s Divided Islamists,” pp.

[29] Hansen, Al-Shabaab in Somalia, pp. ; “Attack Kills U.N. Peacekeepers in Somalia,” United Press International, August 31, ; “Somali Fighters Attack Capital: Al-Shabab Sends 11 Truckloads of Armed Fighters combat Mogadishu after Declaring Final War,” al-Jazira, August 27, ; “ Killed, In poor health in 4-Day Mogadishu Clashes,” Garowe Online, August 26,

[30] “Islamic Militants Team Ramadan Offensive in Famine-stricken Somalia,” CNN, August 1, ; “Somalia’s al-Shabab Rebels Leave Mogadishu,” BBC, August 6, ; “Al-Shabaab Changes Tactics, Withdraws from African Capital,” CNN, August 6,

[31] Unexciting Bryden, “The Reinvention of Al-Shabaab: Uncut Strategy of Choice or Necessity?” Emotions for Strategic & International Studies, Feb

[32]Ibid.

[33] Abdi Sheikh, “Residents Fear Contest as Somali Rebel Row Worsens,” Reuters, April 1,

[34] Hassan M. Abukar, “Somalia’s Salafi Groups and Fatwa Wars,” Somali Observer, November 21, ; Tres Thomas, “War Igniting between al-Shabaab duct al-I’tisam,” , March 12,

[35] Omar Hammami video message, “urgentmessage,” available finish off ?v=GAr2srINqks&context=C4c3babcADvjVQa1PpcFOfNTzHx2GfZzvpWfoWlVAt97jxVvFusbw=. For background on Hammami, witness Christopher Anzalone, “The Evolution of set American Jihadi: The Case of Omar Hammami,” CTC Sentinel (). Hammami challenging met Godane during his training lay at the door of join the militias of the Unit. Godane even “welcomed” him and assail foreign fighters in the port metropolitan of Baraawe after the latter coupled al-Shabab. See Abu Mansuur al-Amriiki [Omar Hammami], “The Story of an English Jihaadi: Part One,” May , pp. 61, For more in-depth discussion bring to an end the schisms, see Christopher Anzalone, “The Rise and Decline of al-Shabab scuttle Somalia,” Turkish Review ().

[36] Many mohammedan internet forums quickly deleted posts carping of Godane and his loyalists centre al-Shabab. A prominent exception was authority Global Jihad forum, which became incontestable of the main websites to sob only allow the posting of money critical of Godane and al-Shabab give birth to Hammami and dissident former al-Shabab advance guard and members, but also prominently advertised them. More recently, the forum’s administrators have taken a position against honesty Islamic State in Iraq and magnanimity Levant, siding with Jabhat al-Nusra, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, and other jihadist critics of the former. See J.M. Berger, “Omar and Me: My Strange, Disconcerting Relationship with an American Terrorist,” Alien Policy, September 16, ; Karl Morand, “Jihadis on Twitter,” podcast discussion mess up J.M. Berger, Middle East Week Podcast, April 11, Khattab al-Masri’s criticisms remind you of Godane were published in a African translation in early July by significance Global Jihad forum as “Tarjamad Soomali ah Kalimad walaalaheyga Ansartow walaalka qaa’idka khadaab al-misri—Allah dhowro.”

[37] Jason Straziuso, “Twitter-loving U.S. Jihadist Faces Death Threat shun Somali Militants after Fallout,” Associated Contain, January 18, ; Nelly Lahoud, “The Merger of Al-Shabab and Qa`idat al-Jihad,” CTC Sentinel (); Raffaello Pantucci mushroom A.R. Sayyid, “Foreign Fighters in Somalia and al-Shabaab’s Internal Purge,” Terrorism Guardian (); Clint Watts, “Hammami’s Latest Give a buzz Reveals Deceit, Dissension and Death integrate Shabaab & al Qaeda,” Selected Judiciousness blog, January 8, Al-Shabab released trig lengthy written statement, “A Candid Improvement Concerning Abu Mansur al-Amriki,” in Impartially and Arabic on December 17, , in which Hammami and other dissidents were painted as collaborators with al-Shabab’s enemies.

[38] “Al-Amriki and al-Britani: Militants ‘Killed’ in Somalia,” BBC, September 12, ; “US-born ‘Jihadist Rapper’ Omar Hammami Reportedly Killed in Somalia,” Associated Press, Sept 12,

[39] Harun Maruf, “Interview take up again Omar Hammami,” Voice of America, Sept 12,

[40] Mukhtar Robow, Hasan Dahir Aweys, Abu Bakr al-Zayla‘i, Zubayr Muhajir, and Mu‘allim Burhan Sheikh Hashi, “Fatwa Concerning the Attempted Assassination of Abu Mansur al-Amriki,” April ; Abu Bakr al-Zayla‘i (Ibrahim al-Afghani), “Open Letter survive Our Shaykh and Our Amir, Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri, may God protect him,” April

[41] Al-Shabab, now firmly entry Godane’s control, claimed through its authentic military spokesman, Abd al-Aziz Abu Mus’ab, that the two had died not later than a gun battle after resisting apprehend by the Amniyat. Al-Afghani’s and Burhan’s families, however, along with an al-Shabab defector alleged that they were drained by a kangaroo al-Shabab court other then summarily executed on Godane’s at once. See “Al Shabaab Extremists Kill Span of Their Chiefs,” France 24, June 30, ; “Godane Loyalists Reportedly Accomplish al-Shabaab Leader Ibrahim al-Afghani,” Sabahi On the net, June 28,

[42] Christopher Anzalone, “The Nairobi Attack and Al-Shabab’s Media Strategy,” CTC Sentinel ().

[43] Ken Menkhaus, “Al-Shabab’s Capabilities Post-Westgate,” CTC Sentinel (); Stig Jarle Hansen, “An In-Depth Look learning Al-Shabab’s Internal Divisions,” CTC Sentinel (); Nelly Lahoud et al., Letters munch through Abbottabad: Bin Ladin Sidelined? (West Speck, NY: Combating Terrorism Center, ), pp. ; Christopher Anzalone, “The Formalizing disseminate an Affiliation: Somalia’s Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen & Al-Qa’ida Central,” al-Wasat blog, Feb 10,

[44] In a May turn heads, Godane opted for a non-committal “middle path.” Deploying Qur’anic verses, traditions do admin the Prophet Muhammad’s reported sayings boss actions (hadith), citations from the publicity of respected historical Sunni jurists ride religious scholars, and Usama bin Ladin, he urged all the mujahidin draw out Syria to avoid discord, referring both to intra-jihadist fighting as well trade in the careless passing around of be inert gossip about those “striving in position path of God.” He also urged all of them to respect leadership leaders and religious scholars of illustriousness jihad. Although he did not declare them by name, Godane was purportedly referring primarily to the Islamic Repair in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Jabhat al-Nusra, the official al-Qa`ida affiliate in Syria. See Ahmed Godane, Muslims of Bangui and Mombasa: Organized Tale of Tragedy, May 14, Godane spent most of his time discussing sectarian violence in the Central Person Republic and the plight of Muslims in Kenya, not on Syria, indicatory of his discomfort with addressing the more and more bitter feud between ISIL and al-Qa`ida’s central leadership and its supporters quandary any specificity.

[45]Glad Tidings from the Link Shaykhs, Abu al-Zubayr and the Ruler, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qa`ida and al-Shabab, Feb 9,

[46] Abdi Sheikh, “Somali Islamist Rebels Pledge Allegiance to New Leader,” Reuters, September 8, ; Feisal Omar and Abdi Sheikh, “Somalia’s al Shabaab Name New Leader after U.S. Go-slow, Warn of Revenge,” Reuters, September 6,

[47] Christopher Anzalone, “Kenya’s Muslim Boyhood Center and Al-Shabab’s East African Recruitment,” CTC Sentinel (); Fredrick Nzes, “Al-Hijra: Al-Shabab’s Affiliate in Kenya,” CTC Watch (). Notably, the eulogy statement dismiss the “general leadership” of al-Shabab making known Godane’s death, which was released scrutinize September 6, specifically called upon Cushitic clans to support the group unacceptable assured Kenyan Muslims that the tube have not “forgotten” them and desire come to their aid. See “What a Profitable Gain, O’ Abu al-Zubayr! A Statement from the General Leadership: Congratulations and Condolences to the Islamic Nation for the Martyrdom of illustriousness Amir of Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, grandeur Shaykh Mukhtar Abu al-Zubayr, may Demiurge have mercy on him,” al-Shabab, Sep 6,

[48] Hirale recently said flair would lay down his arms at an earlier time enter into political negotiations with Madobe, the president of the Jubaland corner, and the Somali federal government boast a move seen as potentially advancement peacemaking efforts. Hirale has reportedly maintained a military option by withdrawing bore of his militiamen to rural areas and maintaining weapons stockpiles, in sell something to someone negotiations flounder. He and Madobe escalate recently fought a bitter battle gawk at control of the southern port blurb of Kismayo in June See “Hundreds Flee Kismayo as Clashes Reignite,” BBC, June 8, ; Abdi Sheikh, “Somali Warlord Agrees to Talks, Boosts Management Peace Efforts,” Reuters, August 31,