Al Afghani was killed in a shootout in June 2013 in the southern town of Barowe . Al - Shabaab chief Mukhtar Ali , has a reputation for being secretive , merciless . Zubayr wants his group to be able to deliver devastating attacks beyond Somalia . He formally declared Al - Shabaab an affiliate of al Qaeda . Ali 's actions have led to divisions in his group , which he has ruthlessly suppressed .
Al - Shabaab chief Mukhtar Ali , has a reputation for being secretive , merciless . Zubayr wants his group to be able to deliver devastating attacks beyond Somalia . He formally declared Al - Shabaab an affiliate of al Qaeda . Ali 's actions have led to divisions in his group , which he has ruthlessly suppressed .