- Terrorist group will now call itself The Islamic Authority to project a more mature image
Somalia’s Al-Shabaab terrorist group has changed its name from 'The Lads' in an attempt to project a more mature image.
The military group, which is responsible for killing thousands in Somalia’s 20-year civil war, announced the name change this week.
It will now call itself Imaarah Islamiya (The Islamic Authority), the Somalia Report news service said.
Battle: A company commander serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia stands in a trench along the frontline in Mogadishu while searching for Al-Shabaab militants. The terrorist group has announced it has changed its name
Terror: Al-Shabaab is suspected of being behind the kidnap of Briton Judith Tebbutt, 56, from a Kenyan island resort in September. Her husband David, 58, pictured, was shot dead during the kidnap
Mrs Tebbutt’s husband, David, 58, was shot dead during the kidnap, which happened after bandits landed by boat at the resort near Somalia’s border with Kenya.
Mrs Tebbutt’s whereabouts are still not known.
Two Kenyan men - Ali Babitu Kololo, 25, and Issa Sheikh Saadi, 37 - were charged in connection with the kidnapping and shooting.
Mukhtaar Robow, a spokesman for the group said: 'Al-Shabaab means "youth" but many of us, including the leaders, are very old so we want to change the name to Imaarah Islamiya.'
The announcement came after the militant group held a week-long meeting at Baidoa in the war-torn country’s south west.
At the meeting, the leaders discussed the recent setbacks that have seen it seed control of territory to the international-community-backed Transitional Federation Government.
Al-Shabaab’s full name is Harakaad al-Shabaab al-Mukaahidiin (Movement of the Warrior Young Men).
Horror scene: The Kiwayu Safari Village resort where David Tebbutt died and his wife Judith was abducted
The 14,000 strong group was formed in 2006 after Somalia’s then-dominant Islamic Courts Union was removed from power in the country.
Its stated aims are to control Somalia, establish it as a 'pure' Islamic state and to wage holy war against the 'enemies of Islam'.
Designated a terrorist organisation by most western governments, it has kidnapped and murdered foreign aid workers and is alleged to be involved in piracy.
Kenyans Ali Babitu Kololo and Issa Sheikh Saadi were charged over the kidnapping of Judith Tebbutt and death of her husband David
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