Ahmed Abdi Godane
Ahmed Abdi Godane | |
|---|---|
Axmed Cabdi Godane أحمد عبدي جودان | |
Godane in an undated video released after his death | |
| Emir of Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen | |
| In office 2008 – 1 September 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Aden Hashi Farah Ayro |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Diri |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 July 1977 Jarar Zone, Ethiopia |
| Died | 1 September 2014 (aged 37) near Barawa, Somalia |
| Nickname | Mukhtar Abu Zubayr |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Islamic Courts Union (2003–2007) Al-Qaeda
|
| Years of service | 2003-2014 |
| Rank | Emir of Al Shabaab |
| Battles/wars | Somali Civil War |
Ahmed Abdi Godane (10 July 1977 – 1 September 2014), also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubair, was a Somali militant leader who served as the second emir of al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group based in Somalia. Godane, who received training and fought in Afghanistan, was designated by the United States as a terrorist. The exact date of Godane's rise to al-Shabaab's Emir is debated, although it seems he ascended to this position in December 2007.
During his leadership of Al-Shabaab, the group pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda. He was killed in a U.S. drone strike on 1 September 2014 in southern Somalia.