Sheikh Khadar of Masagawaa arrested by al Shabaab

It appears that al Shabaab has found someone to blame for the starvation they cannot seem to address by arresting on of their own, Sheikh Khadar, of Masagawaa, for stealing aid funds for drought.

-Shimron


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Somalia’s Al Shabaab militant group has detained regional leaders of the group in the Galgudud region of central Somalia after being charged with stealing money, local elders said Friday.

Sheikh Khadar, Al Shabaab’s Eldher district commissioner, and two other officials were taken into custody following search operations in the village of Masagawaa.

The officials were accused of stealing 300 million Somali shillings (US$9,677) which is said to have been intended to aid drought-affected Somalis in central Somalia.

No comments about the incident were immediately available from Al Shabaab’s administration in the region.

The event comes as many regions in southern and central Somalia have been hit by severe droughts after a shortage of rain for more three years.

Al Shabaab has banned more than 20 aid agencies from operating in south-central Somalia.Read more:

The Rest @ ALN

Al Shabaab Leader Role Call

Emirs


Sheikh Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow" (2007–2008) Dead
Sheikh Mukhtar Robow "Abu Mansoor" (2008–2009)[16] Dismissed but still around
Sheikh Moktar Ali Zubeyr "Godane" (2009–present) Current Leader


Foreign Leaders

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed: Fazul, a Kenyan, was appointed by Osama bin Laden as al Qaeda's leader in East Africa in late 2009. Before the death of Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, Fazul served as the military operations chief for al Qaeda in East Africa. Fazul is an experienced al Qaeda leader who is known to be able to move in and out of East African countries with ease. In August 2008, he slipped a police dragnet in Kenya. Fazul has been sheltering in Somalia with Shabaab and the Islamic Courts for years. Fazul is considered to be Shabaab's military leader, while

*Sheikh Muktar Abdelrahman Abu Zubeyr is Shabaab's spiritual leader.
Shaykh Muhammad Abu Fa'id: Fai'd, a Saudi citizen, serves as a top financier and a "manager" for Shabaab.

Abu Sulayman Al Banadiri: Banadiri is a Somali of Yemeni descent. He serves as a top adviser to Zubeyr, and trained in an al Qaeda camp in Afghanistan.

Abu Musa Mombasa: Mombasa, a Pakistani citizen, serves as Shabaab's chief of security and training.

Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki: Amriki, whose real name is Omar Hammami, is a US citizen who converted to Islam and traveled to Somalia in 2006. Once in Somalia, he quickly rose through the ranks, and now serves as a military commander, recruiter, financier, and propagandist. Amriki appears in several Shabaab propaganda tapes. Hammami has become a primary recruiter for Al Shabaab; he has issued written statements on behalf of Al Shabaab and has appeared in the terror organization's propaganda videos and audio recordings. An indictment unsealed in August 2010 charged him with providing material support to terrorists.[37]

Mahmud Mujajir: Mujajir, a Sudanese citizen, is Shabaab's chief of recruitment for suicide bombers.

Abdifatah Aweys Abu Hamza: Hamza is a Somali national who trained in Afghanistan. He is the commander of the Mujahideen of Al Quds, or Shabaab's Jerusalem Brigade, a military formation.

One who was not mentioned but reported by the Long War Journal is

Issa Osman Issa: Issa serves as a top al Qaeda recruiter and military strategist for Shabaab. Before joining Shabaab, Issa participated in the simultaneous attacks on the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998, and has been described as a central player in the simultaneous attacks on the Paradise Hotel in Kikambala, Kenya, in 2002, and the attempt to down an Israeli airliner in Mombassa also in 2002.

Somali Leaders


Sheikh Mukhtar Robow "Abu Mansoor" — Deputy Leader and former official spokesman.[17]
Sheikh Xasan Xuseen – Spiritual Leader [18]
Sheikh Hussein Ali Fidow — Political Chief [19]
Sheikh Ali Mohamud Raghe "Dheere" — Official Spokesman[20]
Sheikh Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad "al-Afghani" (Abubakar al-Seyli'i) - Leader (Governor) of the Kisimayo administration [20]
Sheikh Hassan Yaqub Ali — Official spokesman of the Kisimayo administration[20]
Sheik Ali Mohamed Hussein — Leader (Governor) of Banaadir region (Mogadishu)
Sheikh Abdirahman Hassan Hussein — Leader (Governor) of the Middle Shabelle region[21]
Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi "al-Turki" — Leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigades which controls the Juba Valley and was first part of Hizbul Islam but merged with al-Shabaab in 2010.[22]
Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom - Warlord who in July 2010 announced allegiance to al-Shabaab and the al-Shabaab commander in Puntland.[23]

The Rest @ Wilkipedia

Zubayr Says Al Shabaab will Assist with Somali Drought

1/1/2011

The overall leader of the Al-Shabab militia group in Somalia Ahmed Godane has said that Al-Shabab will do all that it takes to assist the drought hit people of Somalia.

He added that all the people in South Somalia will try to bring all that they have together and assist the people affected by drought.

"We are aware that there is a serious drought in parts of Somalia and therefore we urge the islamic communities to come to the rescue of the Somalia people." It is in rare occasions that the head of Al-Shabab comes out openly to talk on issues affecting Somali people.

The Rest @ Bariga Africa

Islamist Unity in Somalia

There is a big show of unity between Awayes and leaders and some Junior leaders of al Shabaab. Actually, it looks like al Shabaab defeated Hizbul Islam, and offered the survivors death or enlistment. Aweys cares not, as long as he becomes the head of an Islamist state in Somalia. Conspicuous in his absence is Adbi Godane, or Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr). Where is he?

Shimron Issachar


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At least 17 people were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu during Tuesday clashes, as Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys publicly declared his support for the merger of Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgent factions, Radio Garowe reports.




The fighting started overnight Monday and continued into Tuesday, with Somali government forces and allied African peacekeepers (AMISOM) repelling attacks by Al Shabaab insurgents.

Most of the violence was concentrated around Mogadishu's Hodan, Bondhere and Abdiaziz districts. Medical workers reported more than 32 wounded persons were admitted to local hospitals.

Witnesses said 8 civilians were killed in two separate incidents when an artillery shell hit residential areas in Kaaraan and Howlwadaag, which are districts outside of Tuesday's fighting zone.

A businessman in Bakara Market, a notorious insurgent stronghold since early 2007, confidentially told Garowe Online that AMISOM peacekeepers had moved "too close" to the market.

"There is plenty of fear that the fighting will spread into Bakara Market," said the business source who declined to be named for security reasons.

Al Shabaab-Hizbul Islam merger

Mogadishu has been wracked by insurgent violence since early 2007, when Islamist fighters went underground and spearheaded a bloody insurgency to overthrow the country's internationally recognized but weak Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

In Feb. 2009, a new Islamist faction was established under the leadership of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who formed the Hizbul Islam insurgent group with the goal of toppling the TFG and installing an Islamist regime in Mogadishu.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Aweys appeared at a public rally with Al Shabaab leaders including Sheikh Fuad Shongole and Sheikh Ali Dheere, Al Shabaab's propaganda chief and spokesman, respectively.

The event was held in Afgoye, a small farming town 30km south of Mogadishu and formerly a major base for Hizbul Islam faction.

Sheikh Aweys said: "I am pleased to witness the unity of Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. I urge all Islamist fighters and all Muslims to join the war."

He called on AMISOM troop-contributing countries, namely Uganda and Burundi, to "pull out your troops or they will return to you dead."

Sheikh Shongole, who is Al Shabaab's third-in-command and chief of propaganda, bragged that he survived a mosque last May to "witness to the unity of the Mujahideen [holy warrior] in Somalia."

Aweys' failure

It is a major change of fortune for Sheikh Aweys, who led all Somali Islamists under the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) umbrella in 2006. The ICU militia seized Mogadishu in June 2006, but were ousted by the Ethiopian army's invasion six months later.

The ICU splintered into three factions: Al Shabaab; Hizbul Islam, led by Sheikh Aweys; and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who became TFG President in Jan. 2009.

Insiders say Sheikh Aweys, who was the leader of all ICU splinter groups in 2006, has now surrendered his seniority and leadership over to junior officers within the former ICU group, but who are now top leaders in Al Shabaab group.

Those who know Sheikh Aweys describe him as a man obssessed with becoming the President of Somalia one day, but his aspiration faces many obstacles not the least of which is that he is on the U.S. terrorism watch-list.

Somali insurgents have remained unable to over-power the 8,000-strong AMISOM peacekeeping force, which guards the port, airport and presidential compound.

Upwards of 21,000 have been killed in the Somali insurgency since early 2007, with more than 1million people displaced.

The Rest @ Garowe Online

Robow challenges Godane (Zubeyr)

Islamists in control of South and Central Somalia are fighting internally as they try and recover from battle losses. Shabaab fought and took Burhakaba town, formerly held by Hizbul Islam.

-Shimron
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A months-long dispute among senior members of Somali insurgent group Al Shabaab took a worse turn Saturday when a senior commander condemned the group’s top chief, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Fuad

Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Khalaf “Shongole” gave a publicly address at a mosque in Mogadishu’s Bakara Market, saying that Al Shabaab chief Ahmed Abdi Godane alias Sheikh Muktar Abdirahman Abu-Zubeyr has “hidden agendas.”

“A leader is he who addresses his people and leads his people towards all good things, but fighting everyone is not part of the solution,” Shongole said.

Local sources report that the dispute among Al Shabaab’s top leaders intensified earlier this month when Al Shabaab insurgents attacked and seized Burhakaba town, located in Bay region northwest of Mogadishu.

Upwards of 30 people were killed in the clashes between Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgent factions. Burhakaba had previously been under the control of Hizbul Islam, a group led by Islamist hardliner Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.

“The fighting in Burhakaba was not jihad, because its haram [prohibited] for a Muslim person to kill another Muslim person and then brag about it,” Shongole said publicly at the mosque.

• Insiders say Shongole is allied to Al Shabaab’s deputy commander, Sheikh Muktar Robow “Abu Mansur,” a native of Bay region. Godane, Al Shabaab’s top chief, is a native in northwestern Somalia separatist region of Somaliland and has no population base in southern Somalia.

This is the first time that a senior member of Al Shabaab has publicly condemned Godane, thereby publicly revealing the fractures that occurred within the group since September fighting when upwards of 800 Al Shabaab fighters were killed in Mogadishu clashes with African Union-backed Somali government forces.

Abu Mansur [Robow] was reportedly angered by the massive losses suffered by Al Shabaab, but his dispute with Godane briefly disappeared from the public until Shongole’s public comments.

The U.S. government designated Al Shabaab as a terrorist organization in early 2008, subsequently followed by other Western powers including Australia.

The Rest @GAROWE ONLINE

Zubeyr (Godani) being Exposed to Capture by Robow and Aweys?

It may be, that as part an al Shabaab "reorganization" being conducted by Sheikh Hassan Dahir and Mukhtaar Abu Mansur Robow, that Sheikh Mohamed in Juba and Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr are being deliberately exposed to capture or death by the release of their whereabouts to the press.

This would explain why there has been certain releases of information about Sheikh Mohamed in Juba being in a Kenyan Jail, and Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr (Abdi Godane)'s recent trips to visit his family in UAE after recent discussions about the merging of al Shabaab with other Islamist Groups....


-Shimron Issachar

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Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-shabab militias in Kismayo have for the first time said that one of their leaders named as Sheikh Mohamed in the Juba region has been in a Kenyan jail for the last six months.

Malim Adan Mohamed Abdullahi blamed some of Al-shabab leaders in Kismayo for not providing money that was needed to secure the release of the arrested senior militia man of the group.

Malim Adan claimed that Kenyan authorities asked for $1000 to release their member but A-shabab’s treasury officer and head of the militia in Kismayo Hasan Yakub Ali refused to provide the funds.

However, Malim could not explain where and how Sheikh Mohamed was arrested by Kenyan authorities.

Another member of the insurgent group sneaked out of a Kenyan prison early this year after allegedly bribing the Kenyan police when he was arrested at the border between Kenya and Uganda.




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Somalia:Alqaeda’s Alshabab leader seen in United Arab Emirates

Dubai (Sunatimes) Some very reliable sources report that the leader of Alshabab, an insurgent groups allied to Alqaeda, Ahmed Aw Mohamud Godane, aka Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Abu Zubeyr, had visited Sharjah, UAE, at least two times so far this ending year.

The reclusive leader made unreported trips to United Arab Emirate to visit his wife and children are had been living in UAE since 2008.

The report says that

• Abu Zubeyr traveled to UAE in March 3, 2010, through Kenya Khat flight and second time was crossed the border as a normal man.
• March 3, 2010“He took a flight which brought Khat, green stimulant leafs, to KM50 airport, an air strip controlled by Alshabab which locates 50kms in the south of Mogadishu"
• Some investigations we made confirmed that Abu Zubeyr crossed the Kenyan border in November 11, 2010 to make his trip to UAE and visited his wife the second times this year.
• Abu Zubeyr was confirmed having a Kenyan passport with unidentified name, and he also has a resident permit from UAE which some Somali businessmen facilitated for him to make sure that he can visit his family when needed.
• A source close to Alshabab, which is in UAE told us that Abu Zubeyr visited his wive Muna Sheikh Abdirahman (Barawe) who lives with his in Sharjah. And he spent six days with them according to the source which claimed anonymity because of security reasons.

This wife, Muna, who is descent from Shiiqaal-Hawiye clan but her mother is Issa-Musse of Isaq clan got the resident permit from one of the Amirs of UAE who had relationship with her father who was working for the Amir long time, according to the source.

She moved from Hargeysa in October 2008 when Alshabab launched the deadly suicide targeted to the Somaliland presidential palace, the Ethiopian business council in Hargeysa and the UNDP head quarters.

A maid who used to work for the family of Abu Zubeyr in UAE confirmed that She saw Abu Zubeyr in the house but didn’t know that he was the unpopular leader of Alshabab.
“I saw him, I didn’t think that he was Abu Zubeyr, but I was told two months later that the man who was in the house was Abu Zubeyr, but I couldn’t talk about that” she said. “I couldn’t talk his information to anyone because I was in UAE without resident permit, I didn’t want to be in trouble” she added.

A Somali businessman in UAE who is neighbor to Abu Zubeyr’s family in Sharjah told Sunatimes that he saw Abu Zubeyr and formally knew him because he used to teach him religion in Hargeysa early times.

“I saw him, he was entering the house, but I didn’t know if the house was his own, I was surprised why such this man who is in the international wanted lists to move freely in such place” said the man whose surname is Hamza.

“In 1999 I was one of his students, he was teaching us the book of the prayers, Safina, I have his photo with me, so I can make sure that in November 23, 2010, he was in his house in Sharjah” he added.

Investigative reporters from Waagacusub, a popular Somali portal website who have long been tracking down about Alshabaab leaders’ profile.

They have secretly received four pictures, one of them is Ahmed Abdi Godane, Alshabaab leaders’ picture To secure the authenticity of the picture, the reporters have discussed with a well-known Somali businessman about his knowledge about Godane by asking if he personally knew Godane.

He acknowledge that he know the militant leader well and selected Godane’s picture from our already-held pictures which confirms that Waagacusub has the personal photo of Ahmed Abdi Godane, Alshabaab’s reclusive leader.

• Abu Zubeyr was the secretary general of the union of Islamic courts regime (UIC) which rules much of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006, but he was hiding himself even as he was in that position.
• He was part of UIC delegation that went to Khartoum to participate the peace deal between the transitional government of that time led by then president Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed and the UIC regime led by the current president of TFG Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
• He was using a passport with the name Mukhtar Abdi rahman, the same name he is using as his war name now, and in the passport it says that he was born July 10, 1977.
  

By Dahir Alasow,
dahiralasow@yahoo.com

The Rest @ Sunna Times

Zubayer (Godane) Possibly Travels to Sharjah UAE

This is a rumor, but still bears watching. Sunatimes reported that Shabaab's spiritual leader, Sheikh Mukhtar Abdurahman Abu Zubeyr (AKA Ahmed Abdi Aw Mohamed Godane) has traveled twice, via Kenya to the UAE to visit his wife and family in Sharjah.The reclusive leader made unreported trips to United Arab Emirate to visit his wife and children are had been living in UAE since 2008.

The report says that Abu Zubeyr traveled to UAE in March 3, 2010, through Kenya Khat flight and second time was crossed the border as a normal man.March 3, 2010"He took a flight which brought Khat, green stimulant leafs, to KM50 airport, an air strip controlled by Alshabab which locates 50kms in the south of Mogadishu" Abu Zubeyr was confirmed having a Kenyan passport with unidentified name, and he also has a resident permit from UAE which some Somali businessmen facilitated for him to make sure that he can visit his family when needed.

A source close to Alshabab, which is in UAE told us that Abu Zubeyr visited his wive Hibo Sheikh Abdirahman (Barawe) who lives with his in Sharjah. And he spent six days with them according to the source which claimed anonymity because of security reasons.

This wife, Hibo, who is descent from Shiiqaal-Hawiye clan but her mother is Issa-Musse of Isaq clan got the resident permit from one of the Amirs of UAE who had relationship with her father who was working for the Amir long time, according to the source.

She moved from Hargeysa in October 2008 when Alshabab launched the deadly suicide targeted to the Somaliland presidential palace, the Ethiopian business council in Hargeysa and the UNDP head quarters.

The Rest @ Somalinet Forums

by Way of
THREAT MATRIX
Monday, December 13, 2010By
Bill Roggio

Robow and Godane Divided

Opinion by Adan Diini appears propose the idea of a Coup attemp underway by Robow, trying to take over al Shabaab, or creae a breakaway group.....

-Shimron Issachar
**************


By : Adan Diini

Different sources have confirmed that the most powerful rebel Islamist movement in Somalia (alshabaab) are in the brink of splitting into two rival groups, after sharp dispute broke out between two of their senior leaders who apparently had disputes over power sharing arrangements and the absence of clear Political Strategy within the movement, also disputes concerning allegations of cronyism and misuse of funds have been subsequently reported to be one of the crucial elements of this developing dispute.

According to government security sources, the dispute between the two leaders broke out after mysterious disappearance of senior Al’shabaab military leader believed to be foreigner; sources also suggested that he was killed at the hands of Amniyaat elements of Al’shabaab who took their orders directly from Godane.

According to valuable information conveyed by sources close to the islamists, the recent difference between Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubair (.a.k.a Ahmed Godane) and his deputy Sheikh Muktar Roobw Abu Mansur have reached breaking point, which could cause severe implications in cities controlled by the movement such as Kismayo and Baldwine and more importantly the capital Mogadishu.a according to reports Hiiraan (central Somalia) and Lower Juba (South) doubts and tensions are rising among al-shabaab leaders and fighters.

• Gunmen loyal to Shiekh Roobow are reportedly begun to withdraw secretly heading for the areas inhabited by Shiekh Robow’s clan (Rahanwein a.k.a Digil and Mirifle) in Bay & Bakool regions.
• This Step leaves Godne fighters in a dangerous critical condition due to the fact that they haven’t any remaining strongholds other than the Hawiye-clan dominated areas in south and central Somalia and Mogadishu it self.
• The lack of unity among Al'shabaab elements led to the recent Al'shabaaab's remarkable turn-back which can be obviously seen during the ongoing confrontations against the TFG and AMISOM troops in Mogadishu.
• Sources within the ismalists have confirmed that it appears that Al'shabaab fighters are suffering from disorder and uncertainty in thier ranks, thus, they are on defensive position contrary to their known habit in the fighting.

The leaders of Al'shabaab Differed several times since the establishment of the group in late 2007, Close-souces within the islamists are saying that the current dispute revolves around power and alleged systematic negligence by Godane of wounded Ah'shabaab fighters who said to be numbered in hundreds in Mogadishu alone.

This came as a final blow to the already tense relations between them. This controversy threatens to start the end of Al'shabaab Al Mujahedeen Movement as a single united movement.

It is difficult though to end the current dispute without the two leaders weakening each other, which in turn would weaken the unity inside this violent radical movement which refuses to engage in any negotiations with the fragile Somali government.

Ismamists sources whom I spoke with also said that the difference between the two men intensified when unification agreement between the two biggest insurgency groups was canceled unilaterally by Godane and his advisors(mostly forign fighters).

• This unification and standardization agreement was primarily concluded by the leaders of Hizbul-Islaam with Shiekh Roobow representing Al'shabaab's interests in this agreement.
• Under the Canceled agreement new Islamic Party with new name will emerge and Al'shabaab would take the newly formed party presidency position among other important military and financial positions.
• After the unilateral cancellation of the agreement, Sheikh Robow was angered and he was reported once saying that Godane is intended to undermine his influence and popularity among Al'shabaab fighters.

Moreover, new cracks appeared between the two men after Al'shabaab's failure to finish the weak TFG government during the holy month of Ramadan’s fighting (named by al'shabaab leader "The end of the aggressors"), Al'shabaab sent hundreds of fighters to the capital to overthrow the Somali government and force the African Union forces to leave, However, they failed miserably in that.

Powerful sources also confirm that most of the injured or died fighters in this offensive were of Digil & Mirifle Clan (a.k.a Rahanwein), which represents more than 60-70 percent of Al'shabaab's overall combat power, although they do not receive adequate attention.

The Clan's elders asked Sheikh Roobow to explain why their tribes men are in the front lines while most of the senior positions are dominated by people from north of Somalia(Somaliland), and why proper medial treatment is not given to their tribes men when they sustain injuries.

Observers had expected for some time that disagreement between the two men is immanent because of the sharp differences in their personalties, Shiekh Roobow is reportedly liked and admired by most of Al'shabaab fighters, While in contraray Godane is barely known by his fighters as he rarely unveils his face.

And he was never seen engaged in fighting activities along side his fighters. Shiekh Roobow however is well known for his violent adventures in dangerous front lines;

• also he publically enjoys finishing-off wounded government soldiers using small sharp knife he always carries around his whist,
• recently he has sustained minor injuries while engaged in bloody fighting against TFG and AMISOM.

Also in a relevant development, Hizbul-Islaam commander in Mogadishu said that he noticed rising numbers of Al'shabaab fighters trying to leave al'shabaab and asking to join Hizbul-Islaam but their request was rejected by Hizbul-Islaam leaders due to the sophisticated relation ship between the two insurgency groups,

also he suggested that Shiekh roobow's next move could be establishing new alliance with Hawiye-clan to create new Islamist movement which will be totally independent from Al'shabaab influence, also alternatively its very likely that if this disputes are not promptly contained it could lead to golden opportunity for Hizbul Islaam leaders who can use this opportunity to widen their organization at A’shabaab expense.

There are already rapidly spreading rumers in Mogadishu that Sheikh Robow and Shiekh Aweis of Hizbul’islaam have already met and discussed possible unity between their factions to form a large dominant Islamist movement in Somalia.

• It is believed though that the corner stone of this new strategy will be Al’shabaab members who hail from the influential Hawiye Clan.
• If they accept to be fully allied with Shiekh Robow and withdraw their recognition for Godane as the unquestionable leader of al'shabaab, this will accelerate the end of political and military influence of Godane among Al'shabaab fighters.

Shiekh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansoor is one of the top leaders of Al’shabaab, who had received military training in Al-Qaida and Taliban Camps in the early nineties. he is wanted by the C.I.A and the Ethiopian security for allegedly being involved in various terrorism activities.

He was dismissed from his post as Al’shabaab’s spokes man and was appointed as Sheikh Ahmed Godane’s Deputy although he remained practically inactive. By : Adan Diini adan.diini@gmail.com

Cabdi Godane Picture and Press Release

Shabab leaders from the Northern Somalia are mainly to blame for destroying Southern Somalia.Godane sets Islam ultimatumMogadishu - A founder and top leader of Somalia's insurgent Shebab group Shabaab al-Mujahideen: on Wednesday vowed to continue his armed struggle until Islamic law spreads across the world and Jerusalem is "liberated".
-(picture from terror free somalia, names on pictures not cofirmed by Shimron letters)

Ahmed Abdi Godane, best known in Somalia by his nom de guerre "Abu Zubayr", spoke in a recorded message that was distributed to local media in Mogadishu.

...."We will fight and the wars will not end until Islamic Sharia is implemented in all continents in the world and until Muslims liberate Jerusyalem," ....

the senior Shabaab leader said. His message was carried by radios, televisions and websites as sporadic fighting continued in Mogadishu following clashes that have left dozens dead since last week.

The fighting has pitted forces loyal to President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed - a moderate Islamist - against radical insurgents led by the Shebab and opposed to the transitional federal government.

Foreign support

"The fighting in Mogadishu is between the forces of Allah and elements whose intention is to introduce democracy and Jewish theories," Godane said. "So we ask the population in the capital to choose the right path."

The Shabaab, which controls most of southern Somalia, has admitted to receiving the support of foreign fighters. According to Somali security officials and foreign intelligence sources in the region, extremist foreign fighters have flocked to Somalia since the start of the year and currently number around 500. Observers have warned that since Ethiopia's military withdrawal in January, Somalia risked becoming a haven for al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists.

Godane also issued a warning to the Somali media.

"Journalists should work professionally," he said in his audio message.

"It is your duty to take part in the current jihad (holy war). Don't misrepresent the facts, don't mislead the people,"

Godane added, addressing the country's press corps. Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists, who have been routinely arrested by the authorities or kidnapped and killed by various armed groups

The Rest @ Terror Free Somalia

Al-Shabab leader threatens more Uganda attacks By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN Associated Press Writer

The leader of the al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group that claimed responsibility for twin bombings in Uganda during the World Cup final threatened further attacks in a new audio message released Thursday. The leader of al-Shabab _ Sheik Muktar Abu Zubayr _ also thanked the militants who carried out Sunday's twin bombings in Uganda that killed 76 people. It was the first time al-Shabab had struck outside Somalia's borders. In the audio message played on Mogadishu radio stations, Abu Zubayr told Uganda's president that more attacks would be carried out. "I say to the Ugandan president what has happened in Kampala was only the beginning. We will keep revenging what your soldiers remorselessly did to our people. Your tanks destroyed the remains of our buildings in Mogadishu and we will also revenge that," Abu Zubayr said. The bombings on Sunday ripped through a restaurant and rugby club as crowds watched the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands on television. Al-Shabab said the bombings were revenge for Uganda's deployment of peacekeepers in Mogadishu with the African Union force, known as AMISOM. Al-Shabab battles African Union and Somali forces in the streets of Mogadishu daily, in an effort to topple Somalia's weak, U.N.-backed administration. Those attacks often miss their military targets and the crossfire kills scores of civilians, "What is called AMISOM has committed a nasty massacre in Mogadishu, worse than the ones committed before by the Ethiopians and Americans: constant shelling at poor civilian populations, tanks leveling what remained of Mogadishu buildings and machine-guns shot at public vehicles. All those were the habits of AMISOM," Abu Zubayr said. Abu Zubayr also thanked the militant team that carried out the attacks. He said they were members of the Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan contingent, named after the militant killed in a U.S. commando raid in rural southern Somalia last September. Nabhan was wanted for the 2002 car bombing of a beach resort in Kenya and an attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner. Meanwhile, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said at a news conference that his country is committed to sending 2,000 more troops to Somalia if the East African regional bloc known as IGAD agrees. He also called for African Union members to send up to 20,000 troops to Somalia "as soon as possible." There are currently more than 5,000 AU troops in Mogadishu from Uganda and Burundi. After the twin bombings in Kampala, al-Shabab also threatened to attack Burundi. U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley on Thursday praised Uganda and Burundi's commitment to the peacekeeping mission in Somalia. "We commend the critical role that Uganda and Burundi continue to play to bring regional security to the unstable areas in east and central Africa, particularly through their leadership of the A.U. mission in Somalia," he said. Crowley added that more than 60 FBI agents arrived Wednesday in Uganda to help investigate Sunday's bombing. "They are fully engaged in the investigation in support of Uganda authorities, will be there for several days, as we continue to determine who is responsible and what happened in that tragedy on Sunday," he said. Uganda hosts an African Union summit later this month where Somalia force levels will be discussed. Museveni told Ugandans not to blame the Somali community in Kampala for Sunday's attacks amid reports of rising tensions between Ugandans and Somalis. "Not all the Somali people are dangerous," the Ugandan president said. "There could be some elements who are dangerous but the majority are good." Museveni vowed to find the terrorists who carried out the attacks and "eliminate them." Over the last two years, foreign fighters numbering in the low hundreds with experience in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq have joined al-Shabab, according to international officials, raising the group's level of militant expertise. Somali-Americans have been recruited and taken part in suicide bombings. The U.S. branded al-Shabab a terrorist organization in 2008, more than a year after Ethiopia sent troops into Somalia and touched off an Islamist and nationalist insurgency that still rages.

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TFG and Shabaab temporary halt in fighting about to End

MOGADISHU (HOL) - Today is the last day of the five-day ultimatum the leader of Al-Shabaab movement Sheik Mukhtar Abdirahman Abuu Zubeyr has given Somalia’s Transitional Government (TFG) troops to surrender to Al-Shabaab forces.

Sheik Mukthar called on government soldiers to surrender to his forces adding that they will not accept government troops to keep their weapons. “We will not accept that they keep their arms and we ask them to surrender their arms to the Mujahidiin forces and continue on with their lives” said Sheik Mukhtar.

The leader of Al-Shabaab added that the leaders of the TFG who have renounced the authentic teachings of Islam will be brought to an Islamic court and will be prosecuted for crimes they have committed against Somalia and the Somali people and for inviting foreign troops to the country” said Sheik Mukhtar.

In response to the remarks of Al-Shabaab leader, the TFG’s Parliament Secretary for National Defence Sheik Yuusuf Mohamed Siyaad Indha-ade said that the Al-Shabaab leader is misguided to suggest that TFG troops should surrender in five days and Sheik Mukhtar is someone who is hiding.

Sheik Indha-ade added that TFG is willing to talk to any opposition group on the basis of the teaching the Quran and Sunnah. “If it is proven that we are wrong, we are prepared to repent but let Ahmed Godane accept talks and accept his mistakes if it is proven he is wrong” added the Parliamentary Secretary for National Defence.

These exchanges of accusations and counter-accusations and claims of victory by each side come at a time when in the last two months the two sides have been engaged in deadly fighting where hundreds of civilians were killed and injured and thousands were displaced.

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