Abu Mansour al-Amriki executed in Somalia

Keydmedia Somali had received a report that Hammami, a leader in the group Al Shabaab, was executed on April 4 by other Al Shabaab members in rebel-hedl Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, but the exact location is unclear yet.

Hammami, who used the name “Abu Mansour al-Amriki” or “The American,” appeared in a video last month in which he said he was afraid for his life because of disagreements within the officials of Al shabab rebels. 

A Washington, D.C.-based group that monitors the war on terrorism said, however, that it questions the accuracy of the report, the second in 13 months reporting Hamammi’s demise. 

“To whomever it may reach from the Muslims, from Abu Mansour al-Amriki, I record this message today because I feel that my life may be endangered by Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahideen due to some differences that occurred between us regarding matters of the Shariah (Muslim law) and matters of the strategy,” he said in the video in English. 

Al Shabaab issued a statement on Twitter denying that Hammami’s life was in danger. 

On Friday, the American Enterprise Institute Gulf of Aden Report newsletter included a report that “There is speculation that Omar Hammami, the American al Shabaab leader, was executed on April 4 by other Al Shabaab members.” 

“All I have heard is the rumor; one of my Somali sources is very skeptical,” he said. “I have not seen any announcement by Shabaab confirming or denying the report. I put out an inquiry to their spokesman, but no answer as of yet.\" 

Born to a Syrian, Muslim father and a Baptist mother, Hammami grew up in Daphne. He was reared as a Baptist, but gravitated toward Islam in high school, according to previously published reports. He dropped out of the University of South Alabama, left the United States, and ended up fighting for al-Shabaab in Somalia. 

He was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2007. Hammami is listed as wanted by the FBI. Local FBI officials said they had no information about possible reports of Hammami’s death.

Keydmedia.net - Kismayu, Somalia