Somalia/Kenya: Al-Shabaab confirms death of Garissa attack leader

Al-Shabaab has confirmed the death of one of its top commanders, Mohamed Mohamud Ali, responsible for the attack on Garissa University in April 2015 in which 148 students were killed. According to a report by Al Jazeera on 19 June 2016, al-Shabaab is blaming the United States for his death. However, Al Jazeera reported on 2 June 2016 that a Somali government official clearly stated: "Sixteen armed men, four of them senior commanders including Mohamed Mohamud Ali, known as Dulyadin ... were killed by the Somali commandos and the special forces of the Jubaland". Yonas Dembele, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Al-Shabaab has conducted many terrorist attacks in Kenya - the one against Christian students in Garissa being one of the most brutal. That attack was spearheaded by Mohamed Mohamud Ali, and while Christians do not celebrate the loss of any life, it is nevertheless a relief for Christians in the region to know that this leader is no longer around to orchestrate such brutal attacks. Still, al-Shabaab is more than Mohamed Mohamud Al; the organization has survived the killing of several top commanders by American drones and air force in the past."