al leaders within the group. The executive shura brought together the sometimes fractious and disparate elements of the group, enabling criticism of Godane, discussion of strategy, and other disputes to be handled without threatening Al-Shabaab's unity. Mukhtar Robow was one of the primary leaders to p

ponent of this view is Sheikh Ahmed Abdi Aw-Mohamed (AKA Godane), the founder of Al-Shabaab, and its leader since 2007. Born in 1977 in Somaliland, Godane spent time in Afghanistan before his return to Somalia. He has sought to internationalize the organization in part by actively soliciting foreign fi

threat. In this view Somalia is just one battle ground amongst many. The most prominent proponent of this view is Sheikh Ahmed Abdi Aw-Mohamed (AKA Godane), the founder of Al-Shabaab, and its leader since 2007. Born in 1977 in Somaliland, Godane spent time in Afghanistan before his return to Somalia. H