Killed al-Shabaab commander was key in 2015 attack on UPDF

The al-Shabaab commander killed in a joint operation by the Ugandan and American forces in Somalia on Friday was the operations officer during the attack on a UPDF base in Janaale that left 19 soldiers dead last year.

Abdirashir Buqdube was later promoted to be the commander of al-Shabaab in Janaale after the deadly attack on Ugandans.

“The al-Shabaab commander killed was the overall commander of Janaale general areas,” Capt Flavia Terimulungi, the UPDF spokesperson in Somalia, said.
He was killed with 22 of his fighters along Buufow-Janaale road as they attempted to ambush the UPDF patrol.

“Our patrols were clearing up the roads for free movement around the area by the time they were attacked by the al-Shabaab terrorists,” Capt Terimulungi said. She said the UPDF did not register any casualties.

Uganda and Somali government ground troops enabled by an American airstrike killed Buqdube and 13 others along the same road.

The UPDF and Somali troops had earlier killed nine before the American airstrike.
He was named by the Somali government last year on a “most-wanted” list of 12 al-Shabaab members involved in terror attacks in Mogadishu.

On Saturday Uganda Battle Group 16 under the command of Col Peter Omola killed another commander together with his four fighters.

“The dead commander is called Adana Bare. He was the Commander of Leego area. Our forces intercepted his vehicle where he was moving with other four terrorists,” Capt Terimulungi said.

His group was carrying improvised explosive devices, grenades and bomb detonators and were moving towards Mogadishu. They were killed in exchange of fire.
In the last one month, the UPDF in Somalia has killed seven al-Shabaab commanders.

Commanders killed in the last one month

1. Abdirashir Bugdube Commander Janaale general areas.

2. Aden Bale Commander Leego general areas.

3. Sheik Mohammed Ali second in Commander Janaale general areas.

4. Mohammed Abribao Judge Janaale.

5. Hassan Ali Dole – chief Aminiyat of lower Shabelle region

6. Abu Islam of Yemen identify – An IED expert

7. Sheik Manisur a Kenyan Somali – Chief training lower Shabelle region