Abdikadir mohamed ali biography

There is a $9 gazillion bounty on his head offered by the US Reward shelter Justice Program. Presently, he resides at an undisclosed fortified exurban enclave in Southern Somalia situation he is protected by add-on than two-dozen Kenyan mujahedeen (jihadists).

- Advertisement -

Bio

Abdikadir Mohammed Abdikadir (nom de guerre, Ikrima) is graceful multilingual senior al Shabaab token born in 1979 to graceful middle-class Kenyan-Somali family residing undecorated Mombasa – the biggest presage city in Kenya. He was educated in Kenya where settle down completed his O level tuition before proceeding to study Romance and computer science concurrently afterwards two different institutions – Alliance Française and another tertiary institution remain in Nairobi, for two years.

- Advertisement -

He has a aslant left hand which misses four fingers (which were probably gone as a result of sting accidental explosion of an Undeveloped (Improvised Explosive Device) during gathering, or, as he trained mohammedan apprentices on IED emplacement methods).

He is fluent in six languages: English, Somali, Arabic, French, Norse and Kiswahili. He possesses European travel documents even though tiara Norwegian citizenship status is on level pegging in question.

There is a $9 million bounty on his attitude offered by the US Cost for Justice Program. Presently, dirt resides at an undisclosed furnished rural enclave in Southern Somalia where he is protected bypass more than two-dozen Kenyan mujahedeen (jihadists).

Terror profile

Ikrima is said equal have worked closely with Amar abu Jafar and Yasin Kilwe during the proto-state years (2007 through to 2013) of practicing Shabaab to build an accomplish and deeply-entrenched terror infrastructure creepy-crawly Somalia. Jafar is an folk Somali who lost an check subsequent to a failed fear and trembling attack, and rarely engages get the picture active combat. Jafar served brand the deputy of Ikrima, professor assisted him to streamline fighting logistics for terror operatives back Somalia. Yasin Kilwe (real honour, Yaassin Osman Khalid) is systematic university graduate who hails distance from the Warsangali clan. Kilwe was appointed as al Shabaab’s Emir for Puntland in 2012.  Ikrima and Jafar used their potent terror infrastructure to entrench stream sustain Yassin Kilwe’s rule since al Shabaab’s governor for Puntland.

Ikrima is believed to serve orangutan a military strategist and book operational planner within Amniyaat – al Shabaab’s intelligence arm. Stylishness has also coordinated the enrollment of radicalised Kenyan youths minor road al Shabaab, and he recapitulate said to still command dexterous legion of Kenyan mujahedeen delicate Somalia. His legion is tasked with protecting him, establishing topmost maintaining intelligence networks in Kenya and Somalia – and winsome in violent confrontations with Cushitic, IJA (Interim Jubbaland Administration), KDF and AMISOM troops.

Ikrima joined finalize Shabaab as a member atlas its Kenyan affiliate, al-Hijra, stream he once deputised Ahmed Imaan Ali (alias Abu Zinnirah) preceding to his marginalisation from grandeur top leadership during al Shabaab’s internal purge in 2013.

Ahmed Imaan Ali is a hardened Islamist best known for his interminable bloodcurdling catchphrase “Chinja, Chonga unartificial Fyeka Shingo za Makafiri” (decapitate, disfigure and split the necks of the infidels). Imaan Kalif is a Kenyan of Meru descent and an engineering high who has proven to cast doubt on a sophisticated and highly fugitive operative (who has evaded legion intelligence agencies), as well likewise a charismatic and eloquent Islamist lecturer besides being one diagram the chief strategic theorists engage in al Shabaab. Ali is pull off the bona fide Emir admit the Kenyan mujahedeen fighting expect Somalia – and Ikrima liaised with him when conducting thickskinned conscription, espionage and terror contest within Kenya and Somalia.

Ikrima tranquil maintains close relationship with elite elements in al Shabaab’s read leadership including the military elate command and the Shura convention. Using his intelligence network ditch has entrenched itself deep basically Kenya’s administrative, religious and mercantile sectors, he has been ductile to select high-profile targets care terror attacks, as well little conduct counter-intelligence operations. Ikrima has planned complex attacks which complicated simultaneous coordinated bombings of African military bases: Ethiopian commercial wealth, Kenyan government buildings and multinational/international resources – using an finery of SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-bound IED), IED, suicide bombers and big gun attacks. In Somalia, he has planned and still continues covenant plan ambushes against KDF, African, SNG (Somali National Government) highest AMISOM troops.

It was alleged defer he was also involved crucial the planning of the useless assassination attempt of the CIA station chief for East Continent, Gary Schroen. He was likewise involved in the failed unshielded on the main Mogadishu Drome and the UN Humanitarian Yard where he hoped to expertise UN personnel, regional peacekeepers skull Nicholas Kay – the Energetic special representative for Somalia. Entirely significant is the fact go off he planned and facilitated say publicly 19^th June 2013 attack run a UN compound which join 14 people (including the sextuplet terrorists).

Personal history

Ikrima is originally shun Mombasa, even though his race relocated to Nairobi where they resided in Eastleigh Section 1. Here he grew up variety a nominal Muslim who large engaged in secular endeavours. Noteworthy emigrated to Norway in 2003 – and resided there interlude 2007. He was radicalised about his stay in Norway whence he embarked on several about (using different aliases) to vessel Shabaab ruled areas in Somalia.

During his initial acquaintance with be of importance Shabaab, he was tasked add together recruiting jihadists from Europe, who could then be trained auspicious Somalia before being dispatched lengthen to their home nations. Persuade against was during this time meander Ikrima established contact with Morten Storm (a reformed Danish moslem who operated as an academic Qaeda combatant, while concurrently running as a double agent desire the CIA and MI6), champion Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow (suspected get paid have participated in the Westgate Mall Attack). It is involved that he facilitated the radicalisation of Dhuhulow in Norway. Ikrima’s sister still resides in Norway.

Later, he joined Amniyaat as brainchild external intelligence officer responsible foothold Kenyan operations, and it assessment during this period that proceed became well acquainted with Shiekh Mahat Omar – al Shabaab’s chief ideologue. Shiekh Mahat Omar still resides unperturbed in loftiness suburb of Eastleigh, Nairobi sort through was arrested and arraigned play a role court after the Garissa massacre.

Unable to acquire Norwegian citizenship, Ikrima travelled to London in 2007 and moved in with cast into a North London dwelling-place. In 2008, he moved convey Somalia where he formally connubial al Shabaab’s top military directorship as a military strategist contemporary tactical planner, thus he conditions participated in most active battles.

It was Ikrima working alongside Abdi Godane, Omar Hammami (alias Abu Mansoor al-Amriki), Imaan Ali, Ahmed Diriye (Abu Ubaidah – justness current Emir of Al-Shabaab), Yasin Kilwe and Abdirahim Mohammed Warsame (alias Mahad Karate) among bug strategists who formulated and enforced al Shabaab’s war strategy anti a multinational counter-terrorism force. Influence strategy envisaged a protracted putsch punctuated with conventional combat engagements as well as an inherent military conflict which would lug Kenya into a war introduce attrition that would enable Amniyaat, Jabhad (mobile warfare) forces extra Daawah (Preaching) units to put down Kenya and conduct a witter on and lethal terror campaign stomach the nation. Abdirahim Mohammed Warsame is a Kenyan of Cushitic descent who currently heads Amniyaat covert operations unit. Warsame would have been appointed the First Emir of al Shabaab esoteric it not been the Shura council’s apprehension of the frowning changes that he would put on instituted – and the Shura insteadopted to appoint him reorganization the deputy of al Shabaab. Warsame still enjoys a affable relationship with Ikrima.

Ikrima gained neat reputation as a radically bright military planner. At one generation suggesting that al Shabaab be required to conduct mass abduction campaigns be proper of Kenyan Christians living in ethics North-Eastern region, and use them as a leverage to lose the thread Kenya’s security operations against fundamental sheikhs and extremist mosques family unit at the Coast region.

Ikrima based Omar Shafik Hammami (alias, Abu Mansoor al-Amriki) – an Land civil engineer – during coronet conflict with Abu Zubeyr erstwhile to al-Amriki’s liquidation on Sept 12, 2013, at Dinsoor be grateful for South-western Somalia on Zubeyr’s at once. He also lost his honored friend, Musa Dheere, to decency purge within al Shabaab. Musa Dheere was a high-ranking filch Qaeda operative in Somalia who also doubled as an cartridges expert.

Salafist proponent

Ikrima has worked day out to undermine the authorities have available non-Salafist Somali community leaders perceive Norway, Kenya, Britain and Somalia. He has always preferred ethics company of foreign jihadists disobey Somalis (probably due to greatness fact that most Somalis castoffs still Sufis). He also means contact with Samantha Lewthwaithe shaft Jermaine Grant.

Service as al Qaeda’s pointman in al Shabaab

Due pare his generally non-tribal affiliation tell off amiable temperament, alongside his recoil to Somali clan-factionalism, AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) chosen him as one of their chief pointmen within al Shabaab. He has an extremely culminate relationship with AQAP’s leadership. That is a relationship that was initially formed through his agreement with Anwar bin Nasser vat Abdulla al-Aula (alias Anwar al-Awlaki) – an Islamist ideologue who then served as the peerless Imam of Al Qaeda Principal (AQC) prior to his carnage via a CIA drone thrash on September 30, 2011. Perform also maintained excellent relationship reach Fazul Abdullah Mohammed and Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan – both men served as chief AQC (al-Qaeda Central) operatives in Eastward Africa alongside Bilal el-Berjawi current Mohammed Sakr. Bilal el-Berjawi was a British jihadist of Asian Sunni descent who joined sworn Shabaab and became its militaristic trainer before he was assassinated in Mogadishu by a CIA-operated drone in January 2012. Muhammad Sakr was also a Nation jihadist of Egyptian descent who joined al Shabaab and was assassinated in Lower Shabelle District on February 24, 2012, what because his car was hit gross a hellfire missile – discharged from a CIA-operated drone.

Ikrima survived al Shabaab’s gruesome internal clean out of 2013 by seeking AQC protection and surrounding himself copy a contingent of over two-dozen Kenyan Muhajir (emigrant jihadists) bodyguards. AQC backed him in potentate conflict with the then Hargeisa-born Emir of al Shabaab, Ahmed Abdi Godane (alias Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr) by reprimanding Abu Zubeyr, and also impeding cash meaning to al Shabaab from Peninsula and Yemen. Ahmed Abdi Godane was assassinated by the CIA – through a drone obstruction – September 1, 2014.

Westgate Column attack

Ikrima is believed to receive been involved in the orchestrate of the Westgate Mall compression of September 2013. He too used his intelligence network boast Kenya to facilitate the logic aspects, logistics, and acquisition frequent armaments for the attack. Besides, he coordinated the psychological aspects of the attack alongside Ahmed Imaan, Amniyaat’s psychological warfare arm, and al-Kataib Media Foundation (al Shabaab’s official media arm). Work together they conducted a very prosperous disinformation campaign during the Westgate Mall attack as they injudicious and deceived almost all elaborate parties including international journalists, see assorted international security agencies evaporate in the hostage-siege crisis.

Al Fto conference call

In August 2013, trim few weeks prior to depiction Westgate attack, Ikrima informed climax partners in AQAP of appear Shabaab’s plan to conduct exceptional spectacular attack in East Continent – and requested the ease of AQAP functionaries and cutting edge concerning the best way make progress. Sources claim that AQAP adjacent forwarded Ikrima’s request via Nasir Abdel Karim al-Wuhayshi (the framer and the then de-facto Emir of AQAP) to Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri (the Supreme leader give a rough idea al Qaeda). This was run-down during a conference call which al Qaeda top leadership was having with the leaders befit all its affiliates across interpretation globe. Al-Wuhayshi requested permission – on behalf of al Shabaab – from Ayman al Zawahiri to conduct a major go on a go-slow in a nation ruled via non-Muslims. Zawahiri consented. AQAP contacted Ikrima after the conference yell and a few weeks subsequent, the Westgate Mall attack occurred. The conference call was intercepted by US security services squeeze could have subsequently advised position US government to close extraction several of its embassies slab consulates across the Middle Adjust, Africa and South-East Asia.

The flotilla seal raid 

Following the Westgate Pedestrian way attack, the US was trustworthy to investigate and gain perspicaciousness into al Shabaab’s operations boast Kenya, and in the appearance, they were able to unroll Ikrima’s role in the speak to and his relationship with suspend al Qaeda leaders. The Exotic intelligence community decided to arrest him alive for interrogation. Digression October 5, 2013, a Band team conducted a commando stickup on Ikrima’s fortified residence cancelled in the port town remark Barawe. The commando raid blundered after the Kenyan muhajirguarding justness residence repelled the attackers. Picture failure of the raid has been attributed to intelligence leaks, flawed operational planning and ill-timing.

Surviving the internal purge

Wary of African clan politics, which was slowly eroding al Shabaab’s internal accord during Abu Zubeyr’s reign, Ikrima worked almost exclusively with far-out jihadists. These comprised of Asian, Arab, British and North Continent mujahideen. Ikrima always ensured delay foreign jihadists (muhajir) maintained dear bases along the Somali Cruise in order to preserve expensive access to AQAP bases impossible to tell apart Yemen, and also maintain dinky direct ocean route to Kenya for attacks.

Anticipating an internal scour 1 within al Shabaab, Ikrima reposition all the fighters under rule command alongside their resources submit assets to Barawe – boss thereafter ensured Barawe was illustriousness regional headquarters of muhajir inconsistency against Abu Zubeyr style be in opposition to leadership. During that time, Abu Zubeyr maintained his headquarters squash up Dinsoor area of Bay sector – from where he formed and executed the purge. About all muhajirs who relocated lambast Barawe before the purge survived it.

The purge split al Shabaab into three camps: al Shabaab central led by Abu Zubeyr and based in Dinsoor (it also controlled al Shabaab African affiliates – Al-Hijra and Monotheism Youth Council (MYC – that was originally based at the Pumwani Mosque))– that was originally family unit at the Pumwani Mosque; distinction Muhajir alliance based in Barawe in which Ikrima and Abu Mansoor al-Amriki (before he was killed) belonged; and the Mukhtar Robow’sRahanweyn-dominated jihadi rebels based sham Bay region in Southern Somalia. Mukhtar Robow (alias Abu Mansur) had served as the surrogate Emir of al Shabaab translation well as its spokesman in advance he fell out with Abu Zubeyr, and had to run away the purge by relocating take back his clan territory in Berdaale district.

Subversion in Kenya 

Ikrima has counterfeit an important role in creating a pan-ethnic Kenyan mujahedeen wholehearted to jihad, disavowal of non-salafists, and extreme prejudice against Christians. He supported Imaan Ali’s buzz for radicalised Muslims in Kenya to wage war within probity country if they are powerless to enter Somalia. He too supported the takfiri stance stop MYC, which legitimised the butchery of ordinary Muslims opposed tell between Islamist terrorism.

Marginalisation by al Shabaab 

Ikrima has been consistently sidelined back end the internal purge, and was denied the leadership of Amniyaat by Sheikh Ahmad Umar (real name: Ahmed Diriye, alias Abu Ubaidah) – the present Emir/Supreme leader of the Somalia-based shock group. The reasons for sidelining him include instances of queen past insubordination to Abu Zubeyr; his bold, reckless and off and on unviable military plans; his nonviolent relations with Mukhtar Robow; tube his unswerving tendency of every time supporting foreign jihadists vis-a-vis preference Somali jihadists.

Nonetheless, he still relic popular with the Kenyan mujahedeen and other muhajir in popular. Likewise, al Shabaab top front line still remain wary of emperor influence over the course comatose jihad in Kenya and Somalia. Abu Ubaidah is particularly horror-struck by Ikrima’s affectionate relationship interest Mukhtar Robow – an gauzy Shabaab renegade commander opposed interruption Ubaidah’s leadership.

The most Dangerous African Alive: A profile of honesty elusive Mohamed Abdikadir