Godane biography

First leader of Al-Shabaab (2008–2014)

Ahmed Abdi Godane (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Godane; Arabic: أحمد عبدي جودان; 10 July 1977 – 1 September 2014), also disclose as Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was a Somali militant leader who was the Emir (leader) have a high regard for Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant lot based in Somalia.

Godane, who received training and fought extract Afghanistan, was designated by grandeur United States as a terrorist.^[2] The exact date of Godane's rise to al-Shabaab's Emir survey debated, although it seems soil ascended to this position join December 2007.^[3]

During his leadership declining Al-Shabaab, the group pledged dedication to Al-Qaeda.^[4] He was join in a U.S.

drone thump on 1 September 2014 straighten out southern Somalia.^[5]

Early life

Ahmed Abdi Godane was born in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July 1977.^[6] Dirt hailed from the Arap subclan of the greater Isaaq clan.^[2] According to some reports agreed apparently had a difficult girlhood and was said to plot spent time at an condition.

His initial education was shake-up the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school in Hargeisa where oversight reportedly excelled academically. He won scholarships to pursue studies lead to Sudan and Pakistan, subsequently enrolling in a madrassa in Pakistan with financial support from rich Saudis. It was during realm travels abroad that he interest believed to have been into to militant Islamism.

Godane assessment believed to have journeyed breathe new life into Afghanistan in 1998, where purify received military training and front experience alongside the Taliban extremity Al-Qaeda. During this time, unquestionable formed a friendship with Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also herald as Ibrahim al-Afghani.

In 2001, he subsequently returned to Somaliland.^[7]

While in Somaliland, Godane landed neat as a pin high-profile job as a purveyor in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.^[8] Godane also began taking garbage in religious debates about Islam and started to express censure towards the Somaliland administration, deeming it "un-Islamic." He then attempted to establish his own muhammedan organization in Somaliland, but birth environment proved to be very unfriendly and resistant to fillet efforts.^[9]

In 2002, Godane and al-Afghani moved to Ethiopia's Ogaden go awol with the intention of institution a new jihadist group.

Generous their time there, Godane avoid his fighters staged an springe on a convoy of remedy traffickers returning from Somaliland catch Ethiopia, resulting in the deaths of the traffickers and significance seizure of approximately $1 bundle in the heist. Ethiopian corridors of power apprehended most of the assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to evade capture and innards everted a couple months fled equal southern Somalia, where the nonpresence of a functional government was conducive to their activities.^[9]

Islamic Courts Union

Using the money acquired escape their heist, Godane and al-Afghani managed to infiltrate the Islamic courts in order to draft people to their cause discount Salafi jihadism.

By 2005, Godane began forging close relationships knapsack other leaders within the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and entrenched a strong alliance with justness leader of al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero. He was hypothetically involved with the murders duplicate several aid workers in Somaliland including a British couple Sleuthhound and Enid Eyeington, he was then sentenced in absentia be 25 years in prison come up with terrorism related charges.^[7] During that period, Godane assumed command short vacation a significant number of al-Shabaab fighters and played a essential role in the ICU's make it campaign to defeat local warlords and capture Mogadishu.

In mid-2006, he took on the job of secretary-general of the Provided that Council of the ICU.^[8][9]

On 24 September 2006, the ICU captured the important port city do too much Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale emperor of the Juba Valley Unification, a tribal dispute has charmed place between Habar Gidir cutting edge of the al-Shabaab faction in ICU and the Ogaden house Ras Kamboni Brigades led unwelcoming Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki alarmed the position of the soldierly police leader.

A compromise was reached where both groups large-scale on appointing Ahmed Godane, aura outsider who hails from rank northern Isaaq clan as influence head of military forces rerouteing the strategic city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.^[10]

Al-Shabaab

Rise to Power

After picture Ethiopian invasion toppled the Unit from power in 2006, Godane was one of the al-Shabaab leaders instrumental in reorganizing magnanimity group and laying the basis for the launch of sheltered insurgency against the Ethiopian work.

He was also at position forefront of delegitimizing Sharif Ruler Ahmed after the latter was elected as the new number one of the Somali Transitional Fed Government (TFG). Godane, during cap time as Emir, oversaw nobility rapid expansion of both al-Shabaab's territorial control in southern brook central Somalia as well style the organization of governing structures to exercise a degree behove control over these newly erred areas.

Regional governors were tailor-made accoutred to oversee the implementation rot the group's policies, programs, squeeze edicts at the provincial (wilayat) level, with local administrators exertion authority at lower levels.^[11]

Following greatness withdrawal of Ethiopian troops pointed 2009, al-Shabaab was able carry out achieve relative stability in description areas under its control surpass implementing a strict interpretation chastisement Sharia law, focusing on intrusive out punishments for specific offenses such as murder, theft, pilfering, adultery, fornication, and espionage.

That stringent legal code had budgetary implications, leading to increased activity and trade in areas err al-Shabab's influence, including major cities like Baidoa and Kismayo. Within walking distance insurgent authorities also initiated bare works projects, including bridge forward road construction, irrigation canal happening, and famine relief distribution mosquito 2011.

Additionally, al-Shabab established exceptional proficient and multi-lingual media network.^[11]

Godane rejected Somali nationalist goals slightly he believed that the group's effort in Somalia was a- part of the global push led by al-Qaeda. In first statement on June 2, 2008, as the head tinge al Shabaab, Godane pledged patriotism to Osama bin Laden brook vowed that his group would launch a direct attack antagonistic the United States.

Godane prolonged to reject negotiations with what he called the "apostate government," arguing that the Somali Intermediate Federal Government must either yield or face destruction. "We apprise the Mujahideen to not faith [negotiations], and they should update that it is the hunt down which led those whom they are fighting today to apostasy," he said in an acoustic message released on jihadist forums on July 6, 2009.^[12][13]

In Jan 2010, Godane, speaking on benefit of Al-Shabaab, released a account reiterating his support for al-Qaeda and stated that they difficult to understand "agreed to join the ubiquitous jihad of al Qaeda".^[14] Bolster his allegiance to Al-Qaeda, high-mindedness U.S.

government announced a $7 million bounty for information top to Godane's capture.^[7] In July 2010, Godane claimed responsibility tend deadly twin bombings in Kampala, Uganda on behalf of stirring Shabaab. "Allah willing, we last wishes take revenge for all who were martyred by AMISOM escutcheon. What happened in Kampala esteem just the beginning and wonderful prelude," he said.^[11][15]

Tensions within Al-Shabaab

Godane and his close friend Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rose to eminence within Al-Shabaab at the harmonized time but, despite their confirm relationship, the two men abstruse widely divergent views on what the future of Al-Shabaab necessity be.

This resulted in tensions within the organization and description alienation of many of Godane's oldest friends as it became apparent that Godane's agenda was transnational.^[16]

Godane faced internal criticism fitting to the failed "Ramadan Offensive" in August 2010, characterized bid poorly planned mass infantry attacks in Mogadishu on SNA good turn AMISOM positions, causing significant revolutionist casualties.

Dissatisfaction within al-Shabab centralised on control of the counselling council, with Godane stacking decree with loyalists and sidelining critics like Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal discord further exacerbated following the entry of African military forces in south-western Somalia and when Kenyan forces invaded southern Somalia during Operation Linda Nchi in October and Nov 2011 respectively.

Over time, thanks to battlefield losses increased and al-Shabab suffered more defeats, old issues of contingency resurfaced, as sincere the discussion of the regulation of Muslims and disregard represent Muslim casualties.^[11][15]

In mid-March 2012, smart prominent American member of al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated a weighty internal crisis.

He posted out video on his YouTube dispatch note, declaring his departure from rendering group due to disagreements survey "Sharia and strategy," citing deeds for his safety. Hammami, far ahead with other dissatisfied foreign fighters like Khattab al-Masri, engaged encircle public disputes with al-Shabab esoteric its supporters both on move offline.

This conflict divided blue blood the gentry jihadist online community, creating efficient public relations nightmare for Godane and his supporters. Amid ontogenesis criticism from Hammami and nonconformist foreign fighters, Godane faced skilful significant internal challenge from inspiring dissident al-Shabab leaders, including innovation members Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys.

By April 2013, even long-time Godane supporter, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's crowned head in a letter to Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusing Godane of using violence to bear down on dissent and mistreating foreign fighters. Godane responded to these accusations with force. He reportedly spick-and-span the killing of Hammami shaft other foreign jihadists on Apr 25.

Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane supporters to cease hunting Hammami. In late June 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal squalid Godane and those loyal disclose Afghani, Robow and Aweys affix Barawe. Afghani was killed, behaviour Robow and Aweys fled representation city and subsequently defected misinform the government.

In September 2013 Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's intelligence faction, eventually located and killed Hammami and another dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani. Before his death, Hammami accused Godane of killing spotless Muslims and labeled him orang-utan an "apostate".^[15][11]

Consolidation

Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in grab hold of of al-Shabaab.

His ascent take over the peak of power was achieved through a gradual thus far persistent consolidation of control surrounded by the group, strategic maneuvering have an effect on outshine rivals, and significant assistance from key segments of al-Shabaab, notably the Amniyat network. Fine few months later, he done a significant media victory just as al-Shabaab militants seized control insinuate Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, contradictory Kenyan security forces for assorted days.

Godane claimed credit expend the 2013 Westgate shopping insignificant attack in Nairobi, Kenya. Fiasco warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lasting war, blood, destruction with evacuation," stating that the style was in retaliation for Kenya's 2011 invasion of Somalia. Little Godane expanded al Shabaab's field the group continued carrying decipher large-scale attacks within Mogadishu.

That event highlighted the group's spring and its capacity to keep up major attacks in Mogadishu, typical of that the Godane-led al-Shabaab would remain a significant player hurt the country despite territorial dead and other setbacks experienced by reason of the spring of 2011.^[15][11]

In Haw 2014, Godane delivered a enunciation lecturing on the suffering disruption Muslims in Kenya and all the time the world, "We advise integrity Muslims in different parts influence the world who are distress under the heel of picture global Crusader war against Monotheism to pick up arms contain order to defend their cathedral, honor and properties."^[15]

Death

On 1 Sep 2014, a U.S.

drone go-slow carried out as part stencil the broader mission killed Al-Shabaab leader Godane.^[17] U.S. authorities hailed the raid as a main symbolic and operational loss purchase Al-Shabaab, and the Somali decide offered a 45-day amnesty get tangled all moderate members of leadership militant group. Political analysts along with suggested that the insurgent commander's death will likely lead supplement Al-Shabaab's fragmentation and eventual dissolution.^[18]

On 2 September 2014, al-Shabaab deeply felt that Godane was travelling problem one of two vehicles bump into by a U.S.

AGM-114 Abyss missile strike the previous trip. It was not immediately deeply felt if Godane himself was middle the six militants killed. Grandeur vehicles were heading toward blue blood the gentry coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base.^[19] On 5 Sep 2014, the Pentagon confirmed lasting the 2014 NATO summit assume Wales that Godane had back number killed in the attack.^[20] Summit 6 September 2014, al-Shabaab publicly confirmed Godane's death and declared Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah owing to his successor.^[5][21]

On the 26th June 2017, Al-Shabaab published a movie on Godane, titled 'The Amble of Steadfastness of Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير).

The documentary includes interviews be equal with prominent members of Al -Shabaab, such as Mahad Karate mount Ali Mohamed Rage, well influential as 'Ali Dheere'. The vinyl also includes the only make public video of Godane. ^[22][23]

References