Mohamed Godane was the leader of Somali militant group Al - Shabaab . He allegedly was behind group 's deadly bombing of a Nairobi , Kenya , shopping mall . U.S. military reportedly killed him this week , Pentagon says . Traditionally , Al-Shabaab focused on bringing Islamic rule to Somalia , attracting dozens of ethnic Somalis -- and a few Westerners -- from the United States and Europe . His death is ` ` a major symbolic and operational loss to Al - Qaeda , '' official says .
Mohamed Godane was the leader of Somali militant group Al - Shabaab . He allegedly was behind group 's deadly bombing of a Nairobi , Kenya , shopping mall . U.S. military reportedly killed him this week , Pentagon says . His death is ` ` a major symbolic and operational loss to Al - Qaeda , '' official says .