The United States has confirmed the death of Mohamed Mire, also known as Abu Abdirahman, a senior leader of the Somali-based militant group al-Shabaab. Mire, who served as the finance head of the group during the notorious Westgate Mall (2013) and DusitD2 (2019) attacks, was killed in a targeted airstrike on December 24, 2024, near Quyno Barrow, approximately 260 kilometers from Mogadishu. The strike, conducted by the U.S. Africa Command (USAC), also eliminated another al-Shabaab militant.
Mire was a long-serving member of al-Shabaab, with over 15 years in leadership roles. In addition to overseeing the group’s finances, he held several significant positions, including head of al-Shabaab’s regions department, its equivalent of an interior ministry, and was involved in strategic decision-making. His leadership and coordination played a key role in the planning and execution of attacks in both Somalia and Kenya. The Westgate attack on September 21, 2013, resulted in the deaths of 67 people, including civilians and military personnel, when four militants stormed the mall. Similarly, the DusitD2 attack in 2019 killed 22 people, further solidifying his reputation within the militant group.
Mire’s death follows several other significant losses for al-Shabaab. In July 2024, Somalia’s anti-money laundering committee targeted him with sanctions for his role in the group’s financial operations. Earlier, in October 2022, U.S. officials had designated him a global terrorist. The U.S. military’s continued focus on eliminating senior al-Shabaab leaders highlights the ongoing efforts to curb the group’s influence in East Africa, where it has fought against the Somali government for over 15 years.
AFRICOM commander, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, emphasized that the command will continue to assess operations and provide additional information as appropriate. Despite these setbacks, al-Shabaab continues to control substantial parts of southern and central Somalia.
