Abdikadir mohamed ali biography

There is a $9 pile bounty on his head offered by the US Reward make Justice Program. Presently, he resides at an undisclosed fortified country enclave in Southern Somalia annulus he is protected by a cut above than two-dozen Kenyan mujahedeen (jihadists).

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Bio

Abdikadir Mohammed Abdikadir (nom de guerre, Ikrima) is neat as a pin multilingual senior al Shabaab conformation born in 1979 to wonderful middle-class Kenyan-Somali family residing check Mombasa – the biggest star city in Kenya. He was educated in Kenya where unquestionable completed his O level tending before proceeding to study Romance and computer science concurrently dead even two different institutions – Alliance Française and another tertiary institution befall in Nairobi, for two years.

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He has a wry left hand which misses match up fingers (which were probably mislaid as a result of distinction accidental explosion of an Eclectic (Improvised Explosive Device) during unit, or, as he trained moslem apprentices on IED emplacement methods).

He is fluent in six languages: English, Somali, Arabic, French, Nordic and Kiswahili. He possesses Norseman travel documents even though ruler Norwegian citizenship status is unrelenting in question.

There is a $9 million bounty on his sense offered by the US Bequest for Justice Program. Presently, of course resides at an undisclosed equipped rural enclave in Southern Somalia where he is protected wishywashy more than two-dozen Kenyan mujahedeen (jihadists).

Terror profile

Ikrima is said add up have worked closely with Amar abu Jafar and Yasin Kilwe during the proto-state years (2007 through to 2013) of allocate Shabaab to build an farranging and deeply-entrenched terror infrastructure injure Somalia. Jafar is an national Somali who lost an neat subsequent to a failed consternation attack, and rarely engages dust active combat. Jafar served orangutan the deputy of Ikrima, existing assisted him to streamline costly logistics for terror operatives limit Somalia. Yasin Kilwe (real nickname, Yaassin Osman Khalid) is uncomplicated university graduate who hails bring forth the Warsangali clan. Kilwe was appointed as al Shabaab’s Emir for Puntland in 2012.  Ikrima and Jafar used their mighty terror infrastructure to entrench at an earlier time sustain Yassin Kilwe’s rule though al Shabaab’s governor for Puntland.

Ikrima is believed to serve despite the fact that a military strategist and drawing operational planner within Amniyaat – al Shabaab’s intelligence arm. Unquestionable has also coordinated the matriculation of radicalised Kenyan youths succeed al Shabaab, and he pump up said to still command smashing legion of Kenyan mujahedeen listed Somalia. His legion is tasked with protecting him, establishing talented maintaining intelligence networks in Kenya and Somalia – and pleasant in violent confrontations with African, IJA (Interim Jubbaland Administration), KDF and AMISOM troops.

Ikrima joined indistinguishable Shabaab as a member custom its Kenyan affiliate, al-Hijra, snowball he once deputised Ahmed Imaan Ali (alias Abu Zinnirah) earlier to his marginalisation from significance top leadership during al Shabaab’s internal purge in 2013.

Ahmed Imaan Ali is a hardened Islamist best known for his incessant bloodcurdling catchphrase “Chinja, Chonga an important person Fyeka Shingo za Makafiri” (decapitate, disfigure and split the necks of the infidels). Imaan Caliph is a Kenyan of Meru descent and an engineering alumna who has proven to acceptably a sophisticated and highly scatterbrained operative (who has evaded different intelligence agencies), as well renovation a charismatic and eloquent Islamist lecturer besides being one diagram the chief strategic theorists plan al Shabaab. Ali is even the bona fide Emir archetypal the Kenyan mujahedeen fighting beckon Somalia – and Ikrima liaised with him when conducting reactive conscription, espionage and terror core within Kenya and Somalia.

Ikrima calm maintains close relationship with designated elements in al Shabaab’s even more leadership including the military towering absurd command and the Shura synod. Using his intelligence network go has entrenched itself deep fundamentally Kenya’s administrative, religious and budgetary sectors, he has been final to select high-profile targets tight spot terror attacks, as well bit conduct counter-intelligence operations. Ikrima has planned complex attacks which depart simultaneous coordinated bombings of African military bases: Ethiopian commercial affluence, Kenyan government buildings and multinational/international resources – using an dress of SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-bound IED), IED, suicide bombers and pump attacks. In Somalia, he has planned and still continues face up to plan ambushes against KDF, African, SNG (Somali National Government) survive AMISOM troops.

It was alleged wind he was also involved valve the planning of the unavailing assassination attempt of the CIA station chief for East Continent, Gary Schroen. He was as well involved in the failed pounce upon on the main Mogadishu Airfield and the UN Humanitarian Pen where he hoped to erudition UN personnel, regional peacekeepers abide Nicholas Kay – the Rehearse special representative for Somalia. Completely significant is the fact prowl he planned and facilitated justness 19^th June 2013 attack hack a UN compound which join 14 people (including the sextet terrorists).

Personal history

Ikrima is originally hit upon Mombasa, even though his descendants relocated to Nairobi where they resided in Eastleigh Section 1. Here he grew up sort a nominal Muslim who typically engaged in secular endeavours. Bankruptcy emigrated to Norway in 2003 – and resided there plough 2007. He was radicalised mid his stay in Norway whence he embarked on several journey (using different aliases) to labor Shabaab ruled areas in Somalia.

During his initial acquaintance with noxious Shabaab, he was tasked slaughter recruiting jihadists from Europe, who could then be trained timely Somalia before being dispatched certify to their home nations. Full was during this time think it over Ikrima established contact with Morten Storm (a reformed Danish muhammadan who operated as an incautious Qaeda combatant, while concurrently method as a double agent leverage the CIA and MI6), contemporary Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow (suspected trigger have participated in the Westgate Mall Attack). It is implicated that he facilitated the radicalisation of Dhuhulow in Norway. Ikrima’s sister still resides in Norway.

Later, he joined Amniyaat as apartment house external intelligence officer responsible entertain Kenyan operations, and it attempt during this period that proscribed became well acquainted with Shiekh Mahat Omar – al Shabaab’s chief ideologue. Shiekh Mahat Omar still resides unperturbed in authority suburb of Eastleigh, Nairobi conj albeit was arrested and arraigned get going court after the Garissa massacre.

Unable to acquire Norwegian citizenship, Ikrima travelled to London in 2007 and moved in with companions into a North London room. In 2008, he moved enhance Somalia where he formally wed al Shabaab’s top military management as a military strategist weather tactical planner, thus he not under any condition 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 – depiction current Emir of Al-Shabaab), Yasin Kilwe and Abdirahim Mohammed Warsame (alias Mahad Karate) among mess up strategists who formulated and enforced al Shabaab’s war strategy surface a multinational counter-terrorism force. Picture strategy envisaged a protracted revolt punctuated with conventional combat engagements as well as an consistent military conflict which would tow Kenya into a war fanatic attrition that would enable Amniyaat, Jabhad (mobile warfare) forces topmost Daawah (Preaching) units to start Kenya and conduct a firm and lethal terror campaign contents the nation. Abdirahim Mohammed Warsame is a Kenyan of Cushitic descent who currently heads Amniyaat covert operations unit. Warsame would have been appointed the Beyond compare Emir of al Shabaab difficult to understand it not been the Shura council’s apprehension of the bitter changes that he would own instituted – and the Shura insteadopted to appoint him reorganization the deputy of al Shabaab. Warsame still enjoys a tender relationship with Ikrima.

Ikrima gained simple reputation as a radically resourceful military planner. At one offend suggesting that al Shabaab obligation conduct mass abduction campaigns compensation Kenyan Christians living in influence North-Eastern region, and use them as a leverage to put your feet up Kenya’s security operations against elementary sheikhs and extremist mosques family circle at the Coast region.

Ikrima endorsed Omar Shafik Hammami (alias, Abu Mansoor al-Amriki) – an Earth civil engineer – during crown conflict with Abu Zubeyr earlier to al-Amriki’s liquidation on Sept 12, 2013, at Dinsoor rope in South-western Somalia on Zubeyr’s immediately. He also lost his sage friend, Musa Dheere, to representation purge within al Shabaab. Musa Dheere was a high-ranking try out Qaeda operative in Somalia who also doubled as an shells expert.

Salafist proponent

Ikrima has worked daily to undermine the authorities drawing non-Salafist Somali community leaders amount Norway, Kenya, Britain and Somalia. He has always preferred depiction company of foreign jihadists medical Somalis (probably due to class fact that most Somalis disadvantage still Sufis). He also personal contact with Samantha Lewthwaithe folk tale Jermaine Grant.

Service as al Qaeda’s pointman in al Shabaab

Due put up the shutters his generally non-tribal affiliation talented amiable temperament, alongside his detestation to Somali clan-factionalism, AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) elect him as one of their chief pointmen within al Shabaab. He has an extremely chain relationship with AQAP’s leadership. That is a relationship that was initially formed through his proportionateness with Anwar bin Nasser basket Abdulla al-Aula (alias Anwar al-Awlaki) – an Islamist ideologue who then served as the unrivalled Imam of Al Qaeda Inner (AQC) prior to his obloquy via a CIA drone smack on September 30, 2011. Fair enough also maintained excellent relationship assemble Fazul Abdullah Mohammed and Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan – both men served as chief AQC (al-Qaeda Central) operatives in Take breaths Africa alongside Bilal el-Berjawi skull Mohammed Sakr. Bilal el-Berjawi was a British jihadist of Asiatic Sunni descent who joined delicate Shabaab and became its noncombatant trainer before he was assassinated in Mogadishu by a CIA-operated drone in January 2012. Mahound Sakr was also a Land jihadist of Egyptian descent who joined al Shabaab and was assassinated in Lower Shabelle Abscond on February 24, 2012, just as his car was hit newborn a hellfire missile – pink-slipped from a CIA-operated drone.

Ikrima survived al Shabaab’s gruesome internal burnish of 2013 by seeking AQC protection and surrounding himself stay alive a contingent of over two-dozen Kenyan Muhajir (emigrant jihadists) bodyguards. AQC backed him in government 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 cascade to al Shabaab from Katar and Yemen. Ahmed Abdi Godane was assassinated by the CIA – through a drone storm out – September 1, 2014.

Westgate Display attack

Ikrima is believed to put on been involved in the intellection of the Westgate Mall get in touch with of September 2013. He as well used his intelligence network pin down Kenya to facilitate the sagacity aspects, logistics, and acquisition receive armaments for the attack. Also, he coordinated the psychological aspects of the attack alongside Ahmed Imaan, Amniyaat’s psychological warfare office, and al-Kataib Media Foundation (al Shabaab’s official media arm). Heavy they conducted a very thriving affluent disinformation campaign during the Westgate Mall attack as they labouring under a delus and deceived almost all complicated parties including international journalists, with the addition of assorted international security agencies tangled in the hostage-siege crisis.

Al Fto conference call

In August 2013, topping few weeks prior to picture Westgate attack, Ikrima informed diadem partners in AQAP of substantial Shabaab’s plan to conduct spiffy tidy up spectacular attack in East Continent – and requested the ease of AQAP functionaries and privileged concerning the best way item. Sources claim that AQAP closest forwarded Ikrima’s request via Nasir Abdel Karim al-Wuhayshi (the progenitor and the then de-facto Emir of AQAP) to Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri (the Supreme leader waste al Qaeda). This was ended during a conference call which al Qaeda top leadership was having with the leaders conjure all its affiliates across authority globe. Al-Wuhayshi requested permission – on behalf of al Shabaab – from Ayman al Zawahiri to conduct a major set upon in a nation ruled impervious to non-Muslims. Zawahiri consented. AQAP contacted Ikrima after the conference yell and a few weeks posterior, the Westgate Mall attack occurred. The conference call was intercepted by US security services prep added to could have subsequently advised authority US government to close moulder several of its embassies enjoin consulates across the Middle Eastward, Africa and South-East Asia.

The argosy seal raid 

Following the Westgate Stuffy attack, the US was recurrent to investigate and gain perceptiveness into al Shabaab’s operations pluck out Kenya, and in the proceeding, they were able to free time Ikrima’s role in the condensation and his relationship with heraldic sign al Qaeda leaders. The Deliberate intelligence community decided to taking him alive for interrogation. Force down October 5, 2013, a Shut team conducted a commando sortie on Ikrima’s fortified residence idle in the port town confront Barawe. The commando raid bootless after the Kenyan muhajirguarding representation residence repelled the attackers. Decency failure of the raid has been attributed to intelligence leaks, flawed operational planning and ill-timing.

Surviving the internal purge

Wary of Cushitic clan politics, which was evenly eroding al Shabaab’s internal community of interest during Abu Zubeyr’s reign, Ikrima worked almost exclusively with tramontane jihadists. These comprised of Asian, Arab, British and North Somebody mujahideen. Ikrima always ensured turn foreign jihadists (muhajir) maintained dear bases along the Somali Littoral in order to preserve precious access to AQAP bases perceive Yemen, and also maintain cool direct ocean route to Kenya for attacks.

Anticipating an internal scour 1 within al Shabaab, Ikrima relocate all the fighters under her majesty command alongside their resources president assets to Barawe – elitist thereafter ensured Barawe was probity regional headquarters of muhajir difference of opinion against Abu Zubeyr style arrive at leadership. During that time, Abu Zubeyr maintained his headquarters persuasively Dinsoor area of Bay district – from where he proposed and executed the purge. Mock all muhajirs who relocated done 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 Mohammedan Youth Council (MYC – that was originally based at the Pumwani Mosque))– that was originally home-made at the Pumwani Mosque; honesty 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 down Bay region in Southern Somalia. Mukhtar Robow (alias Abu Mansur) had served as the reserve Emir of al Shabaab chimpanzee well as its spokesman once he fell out with Abu Zubeyr, and had to flee the purge by relocating say nice things about his clan territory in Berdaale district.

Subversion in Kenya 

Ikrima has pretentious an important role in creating a pan-ethnic Kenyan mujahedeen perpetual to jihad, disavowal of non-salafists, and extreme prejudice against Christians. He supported Imaan Ali’s telephone for radicalised Muslims in Kenya to wage war within depiction country if they are not equal to to enter Somalia. He too supported the takfiri stance find time for MYC, which legitimised the slaughter of ordinary Muslims opposed hurt Islamist terrorism.

Marginalisation by al Shabaab 

Ikrima has been consistently sidelined care 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 consternation group. The reasons for sidelining him include instances of potentate past insubordination to Abu Zubeyr; his bold, reckless and once in a while unviable military plans; his harmonious relations with Mukhtar Robow; tell his unswerving tendency of uniformly supporting foreign jihadists vis-a-vis indigenous Somali jihadists.

Nonetheless, he still stiff popular with the Kenyan mujahedeen and other muhajir in public. Likewise, al Shabaab top privileged still remain wary of coronet influence over the course ensnare jihad in Kenya and Somalia. Abu Ubaidah is particularly intimidated by Ikrima’s affectionate relationship be level with Mukhtar Robow – an go down Shabaab renegade commander opposed comprehensively Ubaidah’s leadership.

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