Ali Mohamed Rage
Spokesperson for Al-Shabaab (2009–present)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ali Mohamed Rage, commonly known as Ali Dheere, is the head spokesman for the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab, and a member of the group’s supreme council.
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Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (Unknown–1997)
Al-Qaeda
Al-Shabaab
(2006–Present)
Ali Mohamed Rage | |
|---|---|
Cali Maxamed Raage علي محمد راجي | |
Ali Mohamed Rage speaking at a graduation ceremony for new Al-Shabaab recruits in September 2022 | |
| Official Spokesperson of Al-Shabaab | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Mukhtar Robow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1966 (age 59–60)[1] |
| Nickname | Ali Dheere |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (Unknown–1997) Al-Qaeda
|
| Rank | Official Spokesperson of Al Shabaab |
| Battles/wars | Somali Civil War |
Early life
Accounts of Ali Mohamed Rage's origins differ. According to Garowe Online he was born in Hawaldag district of Mogadishu during 1966.[2] BBC Somali reported that he was born near the town of El Buur in Galguduud.[3] He is a member of the Murusade sub clan of the Hawiye.[4]
Rage was one of the early youth members of Al-Ittihaad Al-Islaamiya (AIAI), and participated in the groups wars against the United Somali Congress and the Somali Salvation Democratic Front during 1992. He also participated in the 1996–1997 AIAI/Ethiopia war in the Gedo region.[3] Following the dissolution of AIAI in 1997, Rage moved to Mogadishu and became a teacher at Al-Harameyn school. During the rise of the Islamic Courts in Banaadir region, he worked as a trader at a pharmacy in the Bakaara Market and spent his time off assisting Islamic Courts activities.[3]
Al-Shabaab
During the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia, Al-Shabaab’s top spokesman had been Mukhtar Robow. Following a dispute between Robow and the Emir of Al-Shabaab Ahmed Godane during 2009, Rage was made the groups spokes person. He was allegedly chosen by Godane to prevent defections and assure the loyalty Shabaab's Murusade clan fighters.[4] He also serves as the head of the groups 'Office of Education'. In an interview with journalists, he would justify Al-Shabaab's targeting of hotels as legitimate military targets.[5] During the 2011 East Africa drought, he would claim in an interview with Channel 4 News that there was no famine in the Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions.[6] Soon after the start of the Kenya's 2011 Operation Linda Nchi, Rage would publicly warn “We shall come into Kenya if you do not go back.”[7]
In March 2014, the Kenyan Defence Forces claimed to kill Rage.[8] In August 2019, the Somali National Army (SNA) claimed to inflict critical injuries on him during a raid using Somali special forces.[9] October 2022, the SNA also incorrectly claimed that they had killed Rage.[10]
In 2021, the United States marked Rage as a 'Specifically Designated Global Terrorist' and in 2023, put a five million dollar reward for any information leading to his arrest.[2]