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Somalia’s Al Shaabab Replaces Leader After U.S. Air Strike

Somalia’s Al Shaabab Replaces Leader After U.S. Air Strike

A  well coordinated U.S. air strike raid last week killed a long standing Al Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane in Somalia, the Al Qaeda-linked group spokes person said, adding that the group’s enemies will reap the “bitter fruits” of revenge soon, CCTV Africa reported.

Al shabaab has moved quickly to replace Godane with Sheikh Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaida as the head the group, which wants to impose its strict version of Islam on Somalia. The group has also reaffirmed its allegiance to al Qaeda and promised revenge for Godane’s killing.

“We, the al Shabaab mujahideen (fighters), give allegiance to our new leader, Sheikh Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaida,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, spokesman for al Shabaab’s military operations, said in a recorded statement according to Reuters.

The Somalia government is trying to rebuild a nation torn by more than two decades of conflict, but has faced constant attacks from Al Shabaab sympathizers.