Two top commanders of Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group have been killed by their own fighters, following power struggle inside the extremist organization.
One of the dead, Ibrahim Haji Jama Mead, also known as
Al-Afghani, tops Washington’s wanted list of terrorists. Last
June, the State Department placed a US$5 million bounty for
information leading to his location.
The other, Abul Hamid Hashi Olhayi was also a top commander of
the extremist group and one of the founders of the terrorist
group.
"We have informed their widows of their deaths, as they must
now wear the clothes of mourning," Shabab spokesman Abdulaziz
Abu Musab told AFP.
Al-Afghani’s sister confirmed the death but called it an
execution while Shabab claimed that both men died in a battle.
"We deny reports that the men were killed after capture,"
Musab said. "The two men were killed in a shoot out after
resisting arrest on court orders."
Al-Afghani - “The Afghan” - dubbed so for his activities in
Afghanistan, held prominent positions in the Islamic extremist
movement in Somalia occupying positions as first deputy leader of
al-Shabab in charge of finance and also as the head of
al-Shabab's Kisimayo administration.
The man was believed to be representing Shabab’s hard-line
faction that focuses on global jihad. In the last few
years, the insurgent movement has split into rival factions,
based along clan lines and ideological differences. It is
believed that Al-Afghani challenged the command of top chief
Ahmed Abdi Godane, also wanted by the US.