Ahmed abdi godane biography books

Place of Birth: Hargeisa, Somalia ;. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan , was designated by the United States as a terrorist. He was killed in a U. He studied Quran in Hargeisa and won scholarships to study in Sudan and Pakistan. Known as Abu Ubayda, Umar reportedly played an instrumental leadership role in the purge of dissidents from the group in The future of the group after his death will depend on the internal cohesiveness of the post-June version of al-Shabab.

Godane received scholarships to study in Sudan and Pakistan, the latter reportedly funded by private Saudi donors, and it was during his travels abroad that he is believed to have been attracted to militant Islamism. In the s, Godane worked for the money transfer company al-Barakaat, which was shut down by the U. Planned and pushed for by the amir, the offensive was essentially composed primarily of ill-considered mass infantry attacks on AMISOM and TFG positions in the capital city, which led to high insurgent casualties likely numbering in the hundreds.

Hammami in particular goaded Godane, other al-Shabab members, and their supporters online via his Twitter account. Godane, as he was facing mounting criticism from Hammami and dissident foreign fighters, was threatened by a serious internal challenge from a number of prominent al-Shabab dissident leaders, including founding members Robow and al-Afghani.

Godane responded to these accusations with force. He reportedly ordered the killing of Hammami and other foreign jihadists on April Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane supporters to cease hunting Hammami. In late June , fighting erupted between forces loyal to Godane and those loyal to Afghani, Robow and Aweys in Barawe. Afghani was killed, while Robow and Aweys fled the city and subsequently defected to the government.

In September Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's intelligence branch, eventually located and killed Hammami and another dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani. Before his death, Hammami accused Godane of killing innocent Muslims and labeled him as an "apostate". Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in control of al-Shabaab. His ascent to the peak of power was achieved through a gradual yet persistent consolidation of control within the group, strategic maneuvering to outshine rivals, and significant backing from key segments of al-Shabaab, notably the Amniyat network.

A few months later, he achieved a significant media victory when al-Shabaab militants seized control of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, confounding Kenyan security forces for several days. Godane claimed credit for the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya. He warned Kenya to prepare "for long-lasting war, blood, destruction and evacuation," stating that the attack was in retaliation for Kenya's invasion of Somalia.

As Godane expanded al Shabaab's battlefield the group continued carrying out large-scale attacks within Mogadishu. This event highlighted the group's resilience and its capacity to continue major attacks in Mogadishu, indicating that the Godane-led al-Shabaab would remain a significant player in the country despite territorial losses and other setbacks experienced since the spring of In May , Godane delivered a speech lecturing on the suffering of Muslims in Kenya and throughout the world, "We advise the Muslims in different parts of the world who are suffering under the heel of the global Crusader war against Islam to pick up arms in order to defend their religion, honor and properties.

On 1 September , a U. Political analysts also suggested that the insurgent commander's death will likely lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation and eventual dissolution. On 2 September , al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling in one of two vehicles hit by a U. AGM Hellfire missile strike the previous day.

Ahmed abdi godane biography books

It was not immediately confirmed if Godane himself was among the six militants killed. The vehicles were heading toward the coastal town of Barawe , al-Shabaab's main base. The film also includes the only known video of Godane. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.

In other projects. Wikidata item. See Ahmed 16 Ibid. July 16, See Hoehne, p. ISSUE 9 a s o ph is tic ate d an d c apable m e dia ope r a tions ne twor k that produced m at e r i als in a var ie ty of languages. Hammami had met Godane during his training to join the militias of the ICU. Kills U. See J. Berger, Strategy of Choice or Necessity? April 11, Both were then killed under disputed circumstances.

Godane stood at the pinnacle of his power, thanks to his gradual but continuing consolidation of control within the group, strategic outmaneuvering of rivals, and key support from within key segments of alShabab, chief among them the Amniyat network. He reaped a strategic media victory a few months later when alShabab gunmen seized control of the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi and confounded Kenyan security forces for days.

He outlived the latter by barely a year before being killed in a U. During his tenure, al-Shabab reached the height of its territorial, administrative, economic, and military power. The future of alShabab as a cohesive organization depends on a number of internal and external factors.