{UAH} French spies helped US kill al-Shebab leader

French spies helped US kill al-Shebab leader

Somalis watch the news of Godane's death on CNN television

AFP/Mohamed Abdiwahab

By RFI

French intelligence services helped the US track down and kill the leader of Somalia's al-Shebab Islamist armed group two week ago, sources close to President François Hollande said on Saturday.

France provided intelligence and helped coordinate the air strike that killed al-Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, also known as Abu Zubeyr, on 1 September, an anonymous source told the AFP news agency, confirming a report in Le Point magazine.

AL-SHEBAB - WHO ARE THEY?

France reportedly helped gather information but did not take part in the Hellfire and laser-guided missile strike on a meeting of al-Shebab leaders in south Mogadishu.

French intelligence gave the Pentagon the precise identity of his vehicle and the route he was to follow "on the explicit orders of the president", according to Le Point.

Godane, 37, was one of the US's 10 most wanted terror suspects.

Godane was behind the 2009 kidnapping of two French agents, one of whom, known under the pseudonum of Marc Aubrière, escaped.

The other, Denis Allex, died during a French military strike aiming to rescue him early last year, as did two French soldiers and at least 17 al-Shebab fighters.

Al-Shebab named Ahmed Umar Abou Oubaida as Godane's successor and have sworn to avenge his death.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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