Al-Shabaab founding member killed in Somalia raid

BU'ALE, Somalia - Security forces in Somalia killed a senior founding member of the Al-Shabaab group in the latest operation within the southern parts of the country, with the help of the international partners who had been tracking the terrorist.

Jaafar Gurey was killed in Bu'ale in Middle Jubba, which is under the control of the Al-Shabaab fighters, following a deliberate operation to neutralize the group members who have been integral in the activities conducted by the militants.

Defence Ministry said Gurey worked closely with Ahmed Godane, the former Al-Shabaab leader killed in a US airstrike over ten years ago, and is believed to be an associate of the current leader, Ahmed Diriye.

"Jaafar Gurey was among the founding members of the Al-Shabaab extremist group and a close associate of the group’s successive leaders Ahmed Godane and Ahmed Diriye, with whom he had long collaborated," read the statement.

Throughout his stay in Al-Shabaab, Gurey has served in several departments, including heading the external and leadership security terms, which are tied to operational planning and executing terror attacks across the region.

Intelligence sources said Gurey was one of the founding members of Al-Shabaab and is believed to have laundered money from Ethiopia and used it in building the Al-Shabaab network, which continues to dominate rural areas in Somalia.

"Over the years, he has held several senior positions within the group, including head of external and leadership security, along with intelligence tracking. All roles are tied to operational planning and brutal assassination activities," the ministry said.

"He played a significant role in early financing and formation of the Al-Shabaab organization, having been involved in embezzlement of funds from an Ethiopian company together with Godan, which would be used for the establishment of the group."

His death comes at a time when the Al-Shabaab group is facing uncertainty, given the multi-agency security operations across Somalia with the help of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), along with the US Africa Command.

GAROWE ONLINE