Sunatimes.com - Somalia's federal government said that one of the al-Shabaab co-founders, Abdullahi Nadir, was killed during an operation in the Shabaab-controlled area of Haramka by government security forces on Saturday.
The Somali government said in a statement on Sunday that Abdullahi Nadir, aka Abdullahi Yare and Ubeyd, held various positions within al Shabab, including head of finance and media operations.
Yare, who had an active $3m bounty on his head by the US since 2012, was also a target for the Somali government.
Somalia's intelligence agency tracked down Yare in a small town in southern Middle Juba where he was killed in a joint airstrike.
Government officials believe that Yare was a prime candidate to succeed the current leader Ahmed Diriye, who is reportedly terminally ill.
Al Shabab did not comment on the killing of one of its co-founders.
The Somali military has launched a multi-pronged offensive against Al Shabaab in several parts of the country with the assistance of local allied militia and international partners.
The forces recaptured 20 villages occupied by the Al-Shabab, killing more than 100 al-Shabab fighters and liberating 20 towns from the al-Qaida-affiliated group.
Military officials said the retaken villages include several critical locations in the Hiiraan region, including the small town of Fidow near Somalia's border with Ethiopia.
Al Shabaab's senior officer killed by Somali government forces
Sunatimes.com - Somalia's federal government said that one of the al-Shabaab co-founders, Abdullahi Nadir, was killed during an operation in the Shabaab-controlled area of Haramka by government security forces on Saturday.