Somalia's al Shabaab name new leader after U.S. strike, warn of revenge
Sat Sep 6, 2014 8:31pm GMT
* Sheikh Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah replaces Godane as new leader
* Godane was killed by U.S. air strike, like his predecessor
* Islamist group vows revenge for Godane's killing (Adds Shabaab reaffirming
ties with al Qaeda, Kenyatta quote)
By Feisal Omar and Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab
confirmed on Saturday that its leader Ahmed Godane had been killed in a U.S.
air strike this week and named a new leader, promising "great distress" to
its enemies.
U.S. forces struck Godane's encampment in south-central Somalia with
Hellfire missiles and laser-guided munitions on Monday, but the Pentagon did
not confirm his death until Friday.
Western governments and neighbouring countries want to neutralise a group
that they say has exploited Somalia's chaos to attract jihadists and train
them to fight.
In a statement, al Shabaab reaffirmed its affiliation to al Qaeda, and named
its new leader as Sheikh Ahmad Umar Abu Ubaidah, warning its enemies to
"expect only that which will cause you great distress".
Little is known of al Shabaab's new leader, but a local elder who asked not
be named said he had joined al Shabaab in 2006 and, like Godane, hailed from
the Dir clan.
Godane himself was named head of al Shabaab in 2008, less than a week after
his predecessor Aden Hashi Ayro was killed in a similar U.S. raid.
Godane dramatically raised the group's profile, carrying out bombings and
suicide attacks in Somalia and elsewhere in the region, including last
September's attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in which
67 people died.
Godane publicly claimed responsibility for that attack, saying it was
revenge for Kenyan and Western involvement in Somalia and noting its
proximity to the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United
States.
The militants have also staged guerrilla attacks in parts of the capital, as
well as in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda.
The Pentagon said on Friday that Godane's killing was a "major symbolic and
operational loss" for al Shabaab, but some analysts have said it could bring
more violence.
Al Shabaab, whose name means "The Youth", said two of Godane's companions
had been killed in the attack, adding: "Avenging the death of our scholars
and leaders is a binding obligation on our shoulders that we will never
relinquish or forget, no matter how long it takes."
The group, which aims to impose its own strict version of Islam, controlled
Mogadishu and the southern region of Somalia from 2006 until 2011. It was
forced out of the capital by peacekeeping forces deployed by the African
Union, who have launched a new offensive against the Islamists this year.
Kenya deployed troops with the AU force to try to prevent al Shabaab
encroaching onto its own territory, and suffered retribution in the shape of
the attack on the Westgate mall.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta thanked the United States for killing
Godane, and "for bringing an end to Godane's career of death and
destruction; and finally allowing us to begin our healing process". (Writing
by James Macharia; Editing by Kevin Liffey)