Moktar Ali Zubeyr
Encyclopedia
Sheikh
Moktar Ali Zubeyr 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. He succeeded Sheikh
Mukhtar Robow who had held the position for several months after Sheikh Adan Eyrow
's death.
on July 10, 1977. He hails from the Isaaq
tribe of present-day Somaliland
, a separatist administration in northwestern Somalia
, like Ibrahim "al-Afghani"
who is another key leader in Al-Shabaab who is also on the U.S. terrorism list. He studied Quran in Hargeisa and is a veteran of the Afghan Jihad. While in Somaliland
, Godane had worked for Al-Barakat
, a Somali
remittance company that had been linked to terrorism
.
who is the current President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
.
. 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".
( 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.
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"
, the former governor of Al-Shabaab's Kismayo administration.
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Moktar Ali Zubeyr also known as Muktar Abdirahman "Godane", Ahmad Abdi Godane, Ahmad Abdi Aw Muhammad, Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr and Muqtar Abdurahman Abu Zubeyr, was the Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
(leader) of Harakat Al-Shabab Mujahideen, which currently is the most prominent insurgent
Insurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
group in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, is designated by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a terrorist. He succeeded Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Mukhtar Robow who had held the position for several months after Sheikh Adan Eyrow
Aden Hashi Farah
Aden Hashi Farah "Ayrow" was a leader of the Hizbul Shabaab, the armed wing of the Somali Islamic Courts Union . He was from the Ayr sub-clan, part of the Habar Gidir, which is a branch of the Hawiye clan. He was reportedly married to Halima Abdi Issa Yusuf. He was among several militants killed...
's death.
Early life
Muktar Abdirahman Godane was born in HargeisaHargeisa
Hargeisa is a city in the northwestern Woqooyi Galbeed region of Somalia. With a population of approximately 2 million residents, it is the second largest city in the country. Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region...
on July 10, 1977. He hails from the Isaaq
Isaaq
The Isaaq is one of the main Somali clans. Members of the clan principally live in the northwestern Somaliland region of Somalia, and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The populations of five major cities of Somaliland – Hargeisa, Burco, Berbera, Ceerigaabo and Gabiley – are predominantly Isaaq...
tribe of present-day Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, a separatist administration in northwestern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, like Ibrahim "al-Afghani"
Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad
Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad also known as Ibrahim "al-Afghani" hails from the Sacad Muse sub-clan of Isaaq. He was the first deputy leader of Al-Shabaab and in charge of finance, and is the current Emir of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, an insurgent group fighting Somalia's Transitional Federal...
who is another key leader in Al-Shabaab who is also on the U.S. terrorism list. He studied Quran in Hargeisa and is a veteran of the Afghan Jihad. While in Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, Godane had worked for Al-Barakat
Al-Barakat
al-Barakat or al-Barakaat , which means "Blessings" in Arabic, is a group of companies established in Somalia in 1986. Al-Barakat has involved itself in the modern form of hawala, an informal value transfer system, and the remittance trade. By 2001, it was operating in 40 countries and was the...
, a Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
remittance company that had been linked to terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.
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 AhmedSharif Ahmed
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the current President of Somalia and former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union .-Biography:...
who is the current President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Al-Qaeda
In September 2009 Godane appeared in an Al-Shabaab video where he offered his services to Bin Laden. 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 AhmedSharif Ahmed
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the current President of Somalia and former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union .-Biography:...
. In January 2010, Godane, speaking on behalf of Al-Shabaab, released a statement reiterating his support for Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and stated that they had "agreed to join the international jihad of al Qaeda".
Tensions within Al-Shabaab
Godane and his close friend Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aadIbrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad
Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad also known as Ibrahim "al-Afghani" hails from the Sacad Muse sub-clan of Isaaq. He was the first deputy leader of Al-Shabaab and in charge of finance, and is the current Emir of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, an insurgent group fighting Somalia's Transitional Federal...
( 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.
Removal as Emir
On December 25, 2010, Godane was removed as EmirEmir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
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
Fuad Mohamed Qalaf
Fuad Mohamed Qalaf , also known as Fuad Shangole, is a Somali-Swedish militant Islamist. He was a senior leader of the now defunct Islamic Courts Union , and is currently a senior leader of its successor al-Shabaab.-Biography:...
( aka Fuad Shangole) supported this. He was then replaced with Mukhtar Robow loyalist Ibrahim "al-Afghani"
Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad
Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad also known as Ibrahim "al-Afghani" hails from the Sacad Muse sub-clan of Isaaq. He was the first deputy leader of Al-Shabaab and in charge of finance, and is the current Emir of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, an insurgent group fighting Somalia's Transitional Federal...
, the former governor of Al-Shabaab's Kismayo administration.