The Somali terror group, Al Shabab has appointed Ahmad Umar as the successor to its former leader, Ahmed Godane over the weekend.

The group confirmed for the first time that Ahmed Godane has been killed in a US aerial bombardment earlier last week in a remote part o the country.

The Pentagon announced earlier last week that US special force have struck Godane’s encampment in south-central Somalia with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided munitions.

But the Pentagon did not confirm his death until Friday after it received a credible intelligence confirming that Godane was killed in that bombardment.

In an online statement posted by Al Shabab, the group vowed to take revenge against anybody who played a role in the death of Godane to shame their enemies.

“Avenging the death of our scholars and leaders is a binding obligation on our shoulders that we will never relinquish nor forget no matter how long it takes, by the permission of Allah, you will surely taste the bitter consequences of your actions”, the statement said.

Somali’s authorities last week put the country on high alert for possible retaliatory attacks by al-Shabab militants.

Meanwhile, Somalia has made a surprised change to its national security. Many troops from the African Union forces have been deployed to some key facility centers in the capital, Mogadishu.

National Security Director, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali who took office in July has been asked to step down for his deputy to take over.

No reasons were given for this change but national security Minister, Khalif Ahmed Ereg said the government is preparing for possible attacks from Al Shabab on hospitals and schools and that the change is necessary.

“Security agencies have obtained information indicating that Al Shabab is now planning to carry out desperate attacks against medical facilities, education centers and other government facilities, the security forces are ready to counter their attacks and we call on people to help the security forces in standing against violent acts”, he said.

Godane was one of the US State Department’s most wanted men with a bounty of $7m for information leading to his arrest or death.

Al Shabab used to control the capital, Mogadishu and the southern region of Somalia between 2006 and 2011 but they were driven out of the capital by the African Union peacekeeping forces deployed in 2012 by the African Union with the United Nations support.

Some 22,000 African Union troops are helping Somalia fight Al-Shabab. Al Shabab wants to seize Somalia and create an Islamic state.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com

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