The Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), in close coordination with international partners, conducted a precision airstrike on the night of 26 October 2025 in Bu’aale, Middle Juba region, killing a senior Al-Shabaab leader Mahmoud Abdi Hamud, widely known as Jaafar Gurey.
Jaafar Gurey was among the founding members of the Al-Shabaab extremist network, and a close associate of the group’s successive leaders, Ahmed Abdi Godane and Ahmed Diriye, with whom he had long collaborated. Over the years, he held several senior positions within the group, including Head of External Security, Head of Leadership Security, and Head of Intelligence Tracking – all roles tied to the group’s espionage, operational planning, and brutal assassination activities.
He also played a significant role in the early financing and formation of the Al-Shabaab organisation, having been involved in embezzling funds from an Ethiopian company together with the group’s former leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, which were later used to fund the group’s establishment.
This successful operation, which neutralised Jaafar Gurey, reflects the strong coordination and unity of purpose between the Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, aimed at ensuring security, stability, and lasting peace for the Somali people.
The Government of Somalia reiterates its commitment that targeted counterterrorism operations against terrorist groups will continue until the country is fully liberated from the remaining extremist elements — allowing the people to live in peace, stability, and sustainable progress.