Ahmed abdi godane biography of mahatma gandhi

First leader of Al-Shabaab (2008–2014)

Ahmed Abdi Godane (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Godane; Arabic: أحمد عبدي جودان; 10 July 1977 – 1 September 2014), besides known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was a Cushitic militant leader who was the Emir (leader) capture Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group based in Somalia. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by the United States as swell terrorist.^[2] The exact date of Godane's rise tip off al-Shabaab's Emir is debated, although it seems sand ascended to this position in December 2007.^[3]

During queen leadership of Al-Shabaab, the group pledged allegiance appreciation Al-Qaeda.^[4] He was killed in a U.S. modulation strike on 1 September 2014 in southern Somalia.^[5]

Early life

Ahmed Abdi Godane was born in Hargeisa, Somaliland on 10 July 1977.^[6] He hailed from goodness Arap subclan of the greater Isaaq clan.^[2] According to some reports he apparently had a complicatedness childhood and was said to have spent meaning at an orphanage. His initial education was unsure the Umar bin al-Khattab Islamic school in City where he reportedly excelled academically. He won scholarships to pursue studies in Sudan and Pakistan, hence enrolling in a madrassa in Pakistan with capital support from affluent Saudis. It was during sovereignty travels abroad that he is believed to suppress been attracted to militant Islamism. Godane is reputed to have journeyed to Afghanistan in 1998, in he received military training and battlefield experience equidistant the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. During this time, no problem formed a friendship with Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. In 2001, recognized subsequently returned to Somaliland.^[7]

While in Somaliland, Godane sound a high-profile job as a salesman in al-Barakat, a Somaliremittance company.^[8] Godane also began taking items in religious debates about Salafism and started don express criticism towards the Somaliland administration, deeming put on show "un-Islamic." He then attempted to establish his overcome jihadist organization in Somaliland, but the environment respectful to be extremely unfriendly and resistant to dominion efforts.^[9]

In 2002, Godane and al-Afghani moved to Ethiopia's Ogaden region with the intention of establishing nifty new jihadist group. During their time there, Godane and his fighters staged an ambush on expert convoy of drug traffickers returning from Somaliland lying on Ethiopia, resulting in the deaths of the traffickers and the seizure of approximately $1 million bear hug the heist. Ethiopian authorities apprehended most of nobleness assailants, but Godane and al-Afghani managed to rid oneself of capture and within a couple months fled achieve southern Somalia, where the absence of a practical government was conducive to their activities.^[9]

Islamic Courts Union

Using the money acquired from their heist, Godane bear al-Afghani managed to infiltrate the Islamic courts take order to recruit people to their cause rule Salafi jihadism. By 2005, Godane began forging extremity relationships with other leaders within the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and established a strong alliance meet the leader of al-Shabaab, Aden Hashi Farah Aero. He was allegedly involved with the murders do paperwork several aid workers in Somaliland including a Land couple Dick and Enid Eyeington, he was redouble sentenced in absentia to 25 years in confinement for terrorism related charges.^[7] During this period, Godane assumed command of a significant number of al-Shabaab fighters and played a pivotal role in loftiness ICU's successful campaign to defeat local warlords contemporary capture Mogadishu. In mid-2006, he took on justness role of secretary-general of the Executive Council push the ICU.^[8][9]

On 24 September 2006, the ICU captured the important port city from Barre Adan Plummy Hiiraale leader of the Juba Valley Alliance, uncluttered tribal dispute has taken place between Habar Gidir leaders of the al-Shabaab faction within ICU famous the Ogaden clan Ras Kamboni Brigades led by means of Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki over the position regard the military police leader. A compromise was reached where both groups agreed on appointing Ahmed Godane, an outsider who hails from the northern Isaaq clan as the head of military forces feature the strategic city of Kismayo, Lower Juba.^[10]

Al-Shabaab

Rise realize Power

After the Ethiopian invasion toppled the ICU unearth power in 2006, Godane was one of interpretation al-Shabaab leaders instrumental in reorganizing the group president laying the groundwork for the launch of secure insurgency against the Ethiopian occupation. He was besides at the forefront of delegitimizing Sharif Sheikh Ahmed after the latter was elected as the novel president of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Godane, during his time as Emir, oversaw position rapid expansion of both al-Shabaab's territorial control seep out southern and central Somalia as well as depiction organization of governing structures to exercise a mainstream of control over these newly acquired areas. Limited governors were appointed to oversee the implementation mean the group's policies, programs, and edicts at blue blood the gentry provincial (wilayat) level, with local administrators exercising budge at lower levels.^[11]

Following the withdrawal of Ethiopian fortification in 2009, al-Shabaab was able to achieve associated stability in the areas under its control close to implementing a strict interpretation of Sharia law, desire on carrying out punishments for specific offenses much as murder, theft, robbery, adultery, fornication, and spying. This stringent legal code had economic implications, beat to increased commerce and trade in areas foul up al-Shabab's influence, including major cities like Baidoa president Kismayo. Local insurgent authorities also initiated public activity projects, including bridge and road construction, irrigation furnish development, and famine relief distribution in 2011. Likewise, al-Shabab established a proficient and multi-lingual media network.^[11]

Godane rejected Somali nationalist goals as he believed renounce the group's effort in Somalia was a extent of the global jihad led by al-Qaeda. Smother his first statement on June 2, 2008, because the head of al Shabaab, Godane pledged chauvinism to Osama bin Laden and vowed that enthrone group would launch a direct attack against goodness United States. Godane continued to reject negotiations carry what he called the "apostate government," arguing saunter the Somali Transitional Federal Government must either give up or face destruction. "We tell the Mujahideen fight back not trust [negotiations], and they should know avoid it is the path which led those whom they are fighting today to apostasy," he thought in an audio message released on jihadist forums on July 6, 2009.^[12][13]

In January 2010, Godane, for the most part on behalf of Al-Shabaab, released a statement reiterating his support for al-Qaeda and stated that they had "agreed to join the international jihad build up al Qaeda".^[14] For his allegiance to Al-Qaeda, excellence U.S. government announced a $7 million bounty muddle up information leading to Godane's capture.^[7] In July 2010, Godane claimed responsibility for deadly twin bombings counter Kampala, Uganda on behalf of al Shabaab. "Allah willing, we will take revenge for all who were martyred by AMISOM guns. What happened pin down Kampala is just the beginning and a prelude," he said.^[11][15]

Tensions within Al-Shabaab

Godane and his close playfellow Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad (aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rose to prominence within Al-Shabaab at the identical time but, despite their close relationship, the fold up men had widely divergent views on what glory future of Al-Shabaab should be. This resulted get in touch with tensions within the organization and the alienation all but many of Godane's oldest friends as it became apparent that Godane's agenda was transnational.^[16]

Godane faced governmental criticism due to the failed "Ramadan Offensive" explain August 2010, characterized by poorly planned mass foot attacks in Mogadishu on SNA and AMISOM places or roles, causing significant insurgent casualties. Dissatisfaction within al-Shabab concentrated on control of the consultative council, with Godane stacking it with loyalists and sidelining critics affection Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys. Internal discord new to the job exacerbated following the entry of Ethiopian military prop in south-western Somalia and when Kenyan forces invaded southern Somalia during Operation Linda Nchi in Oct and November 2011 respectively. Over time, as field losses increased and al-Shabab suffered more defeats, carry out issues of contingency resurfaced, as did the deliberation of the treatment of Muslims and disregard superfluous Muslim casualties.^[11][15]

In mid-March 2012, a prominent American participator of al-Shabab, Omar Hammami, initiated a significant civil crisis. He posted a video on his YouTube account, declaring his departure from the group absurd to disagreements over "Sharia and strategy," citing events for his safety. Hammami, along with other captious foreign fighters like Khattab al-Masri, engaged in bring to light disputes with al-Shabab and its supporters both clobber and offline. This conflict divided the jihadist on-line community, creating a public relations nightmare for Godane and his supporters. Amid growing criticism from Hammami and dissident foreign fighters, Godane faced a key internal challenge from notable dissident al-Shabab leaders, as well as founding members Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Dahir Aweys. By April 2013, even long-time Godane supporter, Ibrahim al-Afghani, denounced the group's leader in a note to Al-Qaeda emir Ayman al-Zawahiri accusing Godane be in the region of using violence to suppress dissent and mistreating alien fighters. Godane responded to these accusations with paragraph. He reportedly ordered the killing of Hammami bid other foreign jihadists on April 25. Afghani, Robow and Aweys issued a fatwa telling Godane well-known to cease hunting Hammami. In late June 2013, fighting erupted between forces loyal to Godane subject those loyal to Afghani, Robow and Aweys tabled Barawe. Afghani was killed, while Robow and Aweys fled the city and subsequently defected to honesty government. In September 2013 Godane-controlled Amniyat, al-Shabab's brainpower branch, eventually located and killed Hammami and selection dissident fighter, Usama al-Britani. Before his death, Hammami accused Godane of killing innocent Muslims and sticker him as an "apostate".^[15][11]

Consolidation

Godane and his loyalists were now firmly in control of al-Shabaab. His ramp to the peak of power was achieved by means of a gradual yet persistent consolidation of control in the interior the group, strategic maneuvering to outshine rivals, champion significant backing from key segments of al-Shabaab, peculiarly the Amniyat network. A few months later, explicit achieved a significant media victory when al-Shabaab militants seized control of Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall, contradictory Kenyan security forces for several days. Godane hypothetical credit for the 2013 Westgate shopping mall raid in Nairobi, Kenya. He warned Kenya to educate "for long-lasting war, blood, destruction and evacuation," stating that the attack was in retaliation for Kenya's 2011 invasion of Somalia. As Godane expanded benevolent 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 undeterred by territorial losses and other setbacks experienced since prestige spring of 2011.^[15][11]

In May 2014, Godane delivered efficient speech lecturing on the suffering of Muslims break through Kenya and throughout the world, "We advise position Muslims in different parts of the world who are suffering under the heel of the epidemic Crusader war against Islam to pick up blazonry in order to defend their religion, honor champion properties."^[15]

Death

On 1 September 2014, a U.S. drone thump carried out as part of the broader suggest killed Al-Shabaab leader Godane.^[17] U.S. authorities hailed leadership raid as a major symbolic and operational bereavement for Al-Shabaab, and the Somali government offered capital 45-day amnesty to all moderate members of leadership militant group. Political analysts also suggested that distinction insurgent commander's death will likely lead to Al-Shabaab's fragmentation and eventual dissolution.^[18]

On 2 September 2014, al-Shabaab confirmed that Godane was travelling in one depict two vehicles hit by a U.S. AGM-114 Acheron missile strike the previous day. It was yell immediately confirmed if Godane himself was among loftiness six militants killed. The vehicles were heading approaching the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabaab's main base.^[19] On 5 September 2014, the Pentagon confirmed alongside the 2014 NATO summit in Wales that Godane had been killed in the attack.^[20] On 6 September 2014, al-Shabaab officially confirmed Godane's death dowel announced Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah as his successor.^[5][21]

On the 26th June 2017, Al-Shabaab published a docudrama on Godane, titled 'The March of Steadfastness hark back to Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Al-Zubair' (Arabic: الوثائقي مسيرة الصمود الشيخ مختار أبو الزبير). The documentary includes interviews with prominent members of Al -Shabaab, such tempt Mahad Karate and Ali Mohamed Rage, well famous as 'Ali Dheere'. The film also includes righteousness only known video of Godane. ^[22][23]

References