MOGADISHU (Sunatimes) - The top leader of Somalia’s Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab Ahmed Abdi Godane known as Ábu-Mansor dismissed his deputies namely Mokhtar Robow Ali and Ibrahim Haji Afghani, the Somali section radio of voice of America says on Saturday.

The group’s leader is reportedly to have appointed Mahad Warsame (Mahad Karataay) as his new second-in-command leader.

It is not much known about Warsame but was the head of movement’s elite forces in charge of assassinations.

It is unclear the cause of these men’s dismissal but this follow long standing inner dispute among the top leaders.  No word yet from Al-Shabaab top men on the news of sacking. 

VOA reports that Sheik Godane has also dissolved the consultative council (Shura) days before Al-Shabaab withdrew its fighters from the capital Mogadishu. That was supposedly to be the reason of abandoning the city.

Mokhtar Robow, the most influential man in Al-Shabaab, has large number of fighters in the group.

Al-Shabaab, which has been involving in almost daily fighting against the internationally recognized government of Somalia for the past three years, now losing its power in many parts of southern regions, following the death of Al-Qaeda network Osma Bin Laden.

By. Mohamed Abdi