- Moktar Ali Zubeyr
-
Moktar Ali Zubeyr
Mukhtaar Cali ZuubeyrBorn 10 Jul 1977[1]
Hargeisa, Somalia ( present-day Somaliland)Nationality Somali Ethnicity Somali Occupation Radical Jihadi, Terrorist, veteran of the Afghan Jihad Title Former Emir (leader) of Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen Sheikh Moktar Ali Zubeyr (Somali: Mukhtaar Cali Zuubeyr, Arabic: مختار علي الزبير) also known as Muktar Abdirahman "Godane", Ahmad Abdi Godane, Ahmad Abdi Aw Muhammad, Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr and Muqtar Abdurahman Abu Zubeyr, was the Emir (leader) of Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen, which currently is the most prominent insurgent group in Somalia. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan, is designated by the United States as a terrorist.[2] He succeeded Sheikh Mukhtar Robow who had held the position for several months after Sheikh Adan Eyrow's death.[3]
Contents
Early life
Muktar Abdirahman Godane was born in Hargeisa on July 10, 1977. He hails from the Isaaq tribe[4] of present-day Somaliland, a separatist administration in northwestern Somalia,[5] like Ibrahim "al-Afghani" who is another key leader in Al-Shabaab who is also on the U.S. terrorism list.[2] He studied Quran in Hargeisa and is a veteran of the Afghan Jihad.[1] While in Somaliland, Godane had worked for Al-Barakat, a Somali remittance company that had been linked to terrorism.[4]
Islamic Courts Union
In 2006, Godane became the secretary general of the Executive Council of the Islamic Courts Union, an organization which was then lead by Sharif Ahmed who is the current President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.[4]
Al-Qaeda
In September 2009 Godane appeared in an Al-Shabaab video where he offered his services to Bin Laden.[6] The video appeared to be a response to a Bin Laden from March 2009 in which he urged the Somalis to overthrow the newly elected President of Somalia Sharif Ahmed.[7] In January 2010, Godane, speaking 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 of al Qaeda".[8]
Tensions within Al-Shabaab
Godane and his close friend Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad ( aka Ibrahim Al-Afghani) both rose to prominence within Al-Shabaab at the same time but, despite their close relationship, the two men had widely divergent views on what the future of Al-Shabaab should be. This resulted in tensions within the organization and the alienation of many of Godane's oldest friends as it became apparent that Godane's agenda was translational.[9]
Removal as Emir
On December 25, 2010, Godane was removed as Emir of Al-Shabaab over a dispute within the organization. The dispute was over the role Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys would play in the organisation, after his group, Hizbul Islam, merged with Al-Shabaab. Godane opposed Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys gaining a role of importance, while influential leaders Mukhtar Robow and Fuad Mohamed Qalaf ( aka Fuad Shangole) supported this. He was then replaced with Mukhtar Robow loyalist Ibrahim "al-Afghani",[10] the former governor of Al-Shabaab's Kismayo administration.
References
Notes
- ^ a b http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sc9904.doc.htm
- ^ a b http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4d2d99562.html
- ^ "Somalia: Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen Leader Calls for Government Soldiers to Hand Over Their Weapon With in Five Days". allAfrica.com (Mauritius: AllAfrica Global Media). 2010-07-06. http://allafrica.com/stories/200907061554.html. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
- ^ a b c webarchive.ssrc.org/Somalia_Hoehne_v10.pdf
- ^ [1]
- ^ www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41070.pdf
- ^ http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-09-22-voa31-68758447.html
- ^ "Somali rebels unite, profess loyalty to al Qaeda". Reuters. 2010-02-01. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/02/01/us-somalia-conflict-idUSTRE6102Q720100201.
- ^ http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/04/13/harsh-war-harsh-peace
- ^ http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25041&Itemid=82
General references
Preceded by
Mukhtar Robow
Amir of al-Shabaab
May 2009 – 25 December 2010Succeeded by
Ibrahim "al-Afghani"Categories:- History of Somalia
- Living people
- 1977 births
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