Statement from al-Shabaab on Death of AQAP Commander Shaykh Abu Sufyan al-Azdi (Sa’īd al-Shehri)

Statement of 'Congratulations and Condolences' issued by al-Shabaab on the death in a drone strike of Shaykh Abu Sufyan al-Azdi (Sa’īd al-Shehri) the No.2 leader of al-Qaeda in Yemen.

Arabic Version

English Version

“Answers To The Open Interview With the Mujahid Sheikh [Omar Hammami] Abu Manṣur al-Amrīkī” (Islamic World Issues Study Center, May 2013)

The Islamic World Issues Study Center has released in early May 2013 a 46 page document titled “Answers To The Open Interview With the Mujahid Sheikh [Omar Hammami] Abu Manṣur al-Amrīkī.” 

“Answers To The Open Interview With the Mujahid Shaykh [Omar Hammami] Abu Manṣur al-Amrīkī” (Islamic World...

Press Release: Statement on Attributed Letter By Sheikh Al-Afghani To Amir Sheikh Ayman Al-Zawahiri

Press Release: Statement on Attributed Letter By Sheikh Al-Afghani To Amir Sheikh Ayman Al-Zawahiri

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful 

Korogwe (09/04/2013) – MYC in Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia are aware of an “urgent and open” letter released to a number of forums purporting to be from our Mujahid brother Al-Afghani to our beloved Amir Sheikh Ayman Al-Zawahiri (May Allah Keep Him Strong and Wise). MYC has had the opportunity to study the "letter" and is deeply sadden by its vile content and crude objective. 

While there is the obvious doubt over the letter’s authenticity and author, initial reports suggest it was heavily influenced by Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki and more than likely ghostwritten by this lone crusader of discord and dissent. In particular, the content and objective of the letter are both consistent with Abu Mansoor’s divisive track record within Al-Shabaab: personal and full of fictitious allegations against Amir Sheikh Abu Zubeyr and an unrelenting campaign aimed at fomenting dissent within Al-Shabaab. 

As to the state of Jihad in East Africa referred to in the letter, MYC continues to appreciate and welcome Amir Sheikh Abu Zubeyr’s support, and guidance through our Amir Sheikh Ahmad Iman Ali in opening up new sustained Jihad fronts in East Africa. 

May Allah continue to grant Amir Sheikh Abu Zubeyr patience and wisdom in his leadership of Al-Shabaab.

Press Office

MYC

Source: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rjlnao

Power-play by Ibrahim al-Afghani? - "Urgent and Open Letter to Our Amiir Shaykh Ayman al-Ẓawahiri”

The Islamic World Issues Study Center has published a new message from said to be from  Ibrahim al-Afghani (Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Zayla’ī), a senior founder and leader of al-Shabaab in Somalia in which he calls upon the Amiir of al-Qaeda to remove  Ahmed Abdi Godane (Mukhtar Abu Zubair) as leader of the Somali Islamist group. The letter is entitled: “Urgent and Open Letter to Our Amiir Shaykh Ayman al-Ẓawahiri”

Please make sure to also checkout opinion and analysis by Clinton Watts at Selected Wisdom

Urgent and Open Letter to Our Amiir Shaykh Ayman al-Ẓawahiri”

Gaidi Mtaani - Issue 3

The third edition of "Gaidi Mtaani" (English - "On Terrorism Street"), a Kiswahili language jihadi magazine produced by the Somali Islamist movement al-Shabaab has been released. This particular edition is dedicated to the slain Kenyan Islamist leader Sheikh Aboud Rogo.

Gaidi Mtaani Issue 3 (March 2013)

Source: https://ia601607.us.archive.org/9/items/GMIssue3/GMIssue3.pdf

As-Sahab Foundation Presents a New Message from Ayman al-Zawahiri: "On the Crusader Invasion of Somalia"

The As-Sahab Foundation for Islamic Media Publication, the media/propaganda wing of al-Qaeda has released a message from al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri entitled "On the Crusader Invasion of Somalia" (Arabic:  الغزو الصليبي للصومال). This message runs for length of approximately 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

In this message the al-Qaeda leader urges al-Shabaab fighters to ignore the superior numbers of their enemies and to continue to attack them using ambushes and suicide-bombings. The message appears to have been made recently given its mention of the fall of Kismayo which Ayman al-Zawahiri  apportions some blame directly onto the United States. 

For observers of al-Qaeda and in particular al-Shabaab this video is also significant in that during this message the al-Qaeda makes no mention of the situation of Omar Hammami (Abu Mansour al-Amriki) and recent reports of division of the Somali Islamist groups leadership over matters of strategic outlook and tactics. It would therefore appear that any hopes that al-Amriki may have had of a public intervention by the international leadership of al-Qaeda will not be met. This is not to say however that Ayman al-Zawahiri or other senior leaders are not attempting to do so behind the scenes but rather this message is an attempt to publicly reaffirm the place of al-Shabaab within al-Qaeda and also within the global Salafi-Jihadi movement internationally.

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If for any reason this video or document is no longer available please email us and we will arrange for it them be made available again at the earliest opportunity.

Gaidi Mtaani - Issues 1 & 2

The magazine "Gaidi Mtaani" is a new publication by the Somali Islamist movement, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, known popularly as al-Shabaab. The magazine is the first jihadi magazine to be produced in the Kiswahili language, with its title meaning "Terrorism Street". The choice of Kiswahili, a language that is not widely spoken in Somalia, reflects an effort by al-Shabaab to expand its support-base in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where it is widely spoken and enjoys official status.

A good summary of the contents of these first issue of this magazie can be found at jihadology.net  while the Somalia Newsroom blog provides a good overview of the contents of these first two issues.

Update

For a very interesting technical examination of the origins and development of the first issue "Gaidi Mtaani" through an examination of the documents editorial history please read here.

GIF for Issue 1

GIFF for Issue 2

Gaidi Mtaani (Street Terrorist) - Issue 1

Gaidi Mtaani (Street Terrorist) - Issue 2

Somali translation Abu Yahya al-Libi speech "The American Military and the Ethics of War"

The Labeik Media Foundation, a jihadist media outlet associated with the Somali al-Qimmah Forum has released a Somali translation of the speech by the senior Al-Qaeda figure, Abu Yahya al-Libi, entitled "The American Military and the Ethics of War".
“The American Military and the Ethics of War” (Somali Translation by Labeik Media)