Somalia: Shebab leader killed in military operation
Members of a Shebab militia (illustrative image) AFP / M. Dahir
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
A leader of the Shebab jihadist movement was killed in a military operation last Saturday, October 1.
This is a new blow for the Somali group affiliated with al-Qaeda, which has faced a more aggressive strategy since the election of President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud in September.
This time, it was a candidate for the supreme office of emir of the armed movement who was hit.
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His name was Abdullahi Nadir, and like most of the cadres of the jihadist movement, he also bore several nom de guerre: Abdullahi Yarisow or Abdullahi Yare.
He was one of the founders of the shebabs and closely linked to one of the great Wahhabi families in the country.
Since 2012, a bounty has been placed on his head by the United States of America, which offered $3 million in exchange for information.
The Somali government announced his death last night.
According to the official statement, it occurred on Saturday in Haramka, in the south of the country, between Mogadishu and Kismayo, in "
an operation carried out by the Somali army
" and its "
international partners
".
During the day, the American command in Africa confirmed that it was the strike of one of its aircraft.
"
A thorn in the side of the Somalis has been removed
", rejoiced the federal government.
Abdullahi Nadir was an important senior executive of Shebabs.
He had first taken care of their propaganda, before becoming their prosecutor.
We knew he was close and a possible successor to the current emir, Ahmed Diriye, who is said to be very ill.
Despite everything, the litany of attacks continues.
The Shebabs carried out a triple car bomb attack on Monday against the seat of government in the city of Beledweyne, in the center of the country, which serves as the headquarters of the Somali troops engaged against them.
At least a dozen people were killed, including several officials, according to an initial assessment.
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Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
Shebabs
Somalia