Why Mohamed Mire's death is a huge blow to Al-Shabaab

NAIROBI, Kenya - After exactly 14 days, the US officially confirmed the death of Mohamed Mire, who succumbed to his injuries after a precision airstrike at Quyno Barrow, following close coordination between the US Africa Command and the Somali National Army (SNA).

Usually, the US forces along with the elite Danab troops assess the situation by doing due diligence before and after the airstrike. This explains the long wait for the confirmation of the real victims of such sophisticated airstrikes, not just in Somalia but also around the world.

Also known as Abu Abdirahman, Mire was responsible for the regional governance in Somalia for close to two decades and was among those sitting in the group’s decision-making organs, often overseeing serious operations within the country.

"In addition to being one of Al-Shabaab's longest-serving members, Mire served as the interior minister and played a key role in the group's strategic decision-making," the US Africa Command observed.

The al-Shabaab, which dominates parts of central and southern Somalia, collects close to $130 million annually which is used for funding the fighters besides purchasing sophisticated weapons. At least $24 million is allocated to the purchase of weapons.

The US has remained one of the strategic partners in the fight against Al-Shabaab within Somalia, working closely with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) which has since transitioned to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

“As our National Security Strategy outlines, America remains steadfast in countering the evolving threats of terrorism,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander.

“In 2024, the Global Terrorism Index highlighted that terrorist organizations remain a serious global threat. Al-Shabaab is one of these threats, and we partner with like-minded nations in the region to combat them and other malign actors. Uniting against these transnational threats promotes regional security, stability, and prosperity.”

Two years ago, the U.S. Department of State identified Mire as a specially designated global terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. For this period, the special forces have been tracking him, leading to the final onslaught a fortnight ago.

"Due to operational security concerns, the specifics of the mission cannot be disclosed; however, the command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate," the Command noted.

GAROWE ONLINE