“Since the fall of Somalia’s powerful military government, al Qaeda was stealthily operating in the horn African nations, including Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania” the al Shabaab official addressed at meeting. He admitted that al Shabaab depends on the military and financial support of al Qaeda.
A high ranking al Shabaab official has revealed that Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist network was involved in toppling Somalia’s former military regime led by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Si’ad Barre.
Sheikh Mukhtar Rabow, better known as Abu Mansur, a top al Shabaab official, made the announcement while speaking at a ceremony marking the death of bin Laden on Wednesday in the town of Afgoye, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.
“In 1990s, the martyred al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has sent a number of his fighters to Somalia to train some of Somali guerrillas in order to help depose Somali military regime,” Abu Mansur explained.
He added that bin Laden also played a key role in financing the Somali armed militias and gave logistical support.
“Since the fall of Somalia’s powerful military government, al Qaeda was stealthily operating in the Horn African nations, including Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania,” the al Shabaab official said. He admitted that al Shabaab depends on the military and financial support of al Qaeda.
In 1998, U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam were bombed, leaving hundreds of people dead. Osama bin Laden was blamed as the mastermind of the terrorist attacks.
The al Shabaab member noted that al Qaeda played a crucial role in the 1993 U.S. battle with Somali militia leader Mohamed Farah Aidid.
At least 18 U.S. soldiers killed and 84 wounded in that fighting.
Abu Mansur said the killing of the al Qaeda leader will not undermine al Shabaab efforts and battles to topple the United Nations-backed government of Somalia, which is internationally recognized.
Source: www.allheadlinenews.com
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