Somalia: US Army Kills Senior Shebab Leader

The American army, notably based at the Simba camp in Kenya, killed the Shebab Yusuf Jiis in Somalia (Illustrative image). AFP Photos / US Air Force / Lexie West

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Americans and Somalis announced on Tuesday the death of an important member of the shebab, Yusuf Jiis. The latter was killed on April 2 west of Mogadishu in an air strike conducted by Africom, the US military command in Africa.

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With our regional correspondent, Sébastien Németh

Yusuf Jiis is presented as a founding member of the shebabs, having occupied important positions within the group. General Stephen J. Townsend, Commander of Africom, describes him as " a violent, merciless leader responsible for many deaths ".

Precision airstrike eliminated al-Shabaab senior leader - https://t.co/8LHWHKQ9HU pic.twitter.com/LYFr4QzSvN

US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) April 7, 2020

According to experts, Yusuf Jiis was notably involved in attacks against humanitarian agencies in 2009.

Recently, he worked with Hisba, the Islamic Shebab police, and became a member of the Shura Council, the highest body of the terrorist group. It would only have a dozen members responsible for making important decisions, deciding the movement's policy, sending orders to regional branches, or even appointing the Shebab chiefs.

Yusuf's position was so high that the Somali Ministry of Information announced his death in English. Mogadishu accuses him of " betraying his country ", adding that his elimination constitutes " a major defeat for the shebabs ".

Record number of US strikes

The Americans have been constantly pounding the Islamists since the start of the year. They conducted more than thirty strikes, a record. An intensification observed since the attack on the Kenyan base of Manda Bay, on January 5, and the death of three Americans.

►Read also: Somalia : a high Shebab commander killed in an American strike

However, these bombings are controversial. Amnesty accuses them of having killed many civilians. The United States has promised a new damage analysis mechanism, the first report of which is expected soon.

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  • Somalia
  • Defense
  • United States
  • Terrorism
  • Shebabs
  • Africa

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Somalia: High Shebab Commander Killed in American Strike