Al-Shabaab leader in Somalia claims Emir of Al-Qaeda still alive

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri could still be alive based on the most recent audio released by Al-Shabaab boss Ahmed Omar Diriye alias Abu Ubaidah, who is believed to be his close ally and an associate from the East Africa region.

In the updated audio released by Al-Shabaab's proxy media teams, Ahmed Omar [Abu Ubaidah] seems to suggest that Ayman Al-Zawahiri is alive, despite reports that the Al-Qaeda leader may have died in October 2020, after reports of ill-health which were widely published globally.

The Al-Shabaab leader is heard praising his Al-Qaeda boss, swearing that the network will continue fighting for its space globally besides punishing those who have been inflicting pain and harm to their people around the world for decades now.

He points out America as the "biggest enemy" to the Al-Qaeda, adding that "together with our leader, we shall ensure they are defeated". It's not clear when the audio was recorded but the Al-Shabaab leader, who is also reportedly battling ill-health, also released names of fighters killed during the Manda Airfield raid which happened exactly a year ago.

Al-Shabaab swore allegiance to the Al-Qaeda, a terror network whose leader Osman bin Laden was killed by America's Navy Seals in 2012, in 2010. The group started fighting in Somalia in 2008 and since then, it has targeted thousands of innocent civilians and security forces in the country.

The Manda Airfield raid targeted American troops serving in Kenya and the attackers left three American citizens dead. Since then, the US and East Africa partners have intensified the crackdown against Al-Shabaab, which is the main ally of Al-Qaida in the East Africa region.

The Al-Shabaab attackers in Manda Airfield identified by their leader include Moulana Faruq Moulana, Ahmed Al-Muhajir, Commander (Yemen), Abubakar Al-Muhajir (Tanzania), Ali Muhammad Ali, Qudama Al-Muhajir (Ethiopia), and Abdulwali Muhammad Ibrahim “Moallim Omar” and Adam Iman Yusuf, Abdulkareem who are both Somalis.

Both Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda have struggled in recent months with internal cracks and dwindling financial fortunes being the major cause. Also, the groups have lost several fighters in major security operations carried out by the multi-agency teams across the world.

GAROWE ONLINE