The leader of the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed following a US attack earlier this week, the Pentagon has said.
The US carried out air strikes on Monday night destroying a vehicle and an encampment south of the capital.
Somalia's president issued a statement on Friday urging militants to embrace peace after the death of their leader.
Godane was one of the US state department's most wanted men.
It had placed a bounty of $7m (£4.2m) on his head.
Somali analyst Nuur Mohamud Sheekh told the BBC that Godane's death "will deal a major blow to the group.
"It will have an impact in terms of affecting the morale of the fighters on the ground but it is not the end of al-Shabab in the short or medium term."
He added there was no likely successor.
On Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed announced a 45-day amnesty for militants who are willing to renounce al-Shabab.
source: bbcnews.com
Al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane Killed in US Airstrikes - Confirmed
Somalia's president issued a statement on Friday urging militants to embrace peace after the death of their leader.
Godane was one of the US state department's most wanted men.
It had placed a bounty of $7m (£4.2m) on his head.
Somali analyst Nuur Mohamud Sheekh told the BBC that Godane's death "will deal a major blow to the group.
"It will have an impact in terms of affecting the morale of the fighters on the ground but it is not the end of al-Shabab in the short or medium term."
He added there was no likely successor.
On Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed announced a 45-day amnesty for militants who are willing to renounce al-Shabab.
source: bbcnews.com
0 Comments