Mohamud: One of the main pillars of the Somali war has gone.

Somalia’s president has thanked the United States for killing the leader of the country’s Al Qaeda-linked Shebaab militants in an air strike earlier this week.

“The Somali government thanks the US government and individuals in the Somali security forces who helped the operation,” said a statement from the office of Somalia’s internationally-backed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“After co-operation between the Somali and the American government during this week, the American forces targeted a convoy transporting the Shebaab terrorist group leader Ahmed Abdi Godane and some of his co-workers,” the statement said. “We are confirming that no one in that convoy survived the attack.”

The president called on Shebaab fighters to lay down their arms, offering a 45-day amnesty.

“One of the main pillars of the Somali war has gone, so there is no reason for Somalia’s youth to continue with a war when its day are numbered,” the statement said.

He said the government “is willing to offer amnesty to Shebaab members who reject violence and renounce their links to Shebaab and Al Qaeda – but for the next 45 days only”.

“While an extreme hardcore may fight over the (new) leadership of Shebaab, this is a chance for the majority of members to change course and reject Godane’s decision to make them the pawns of an international terror campaign,” the president said.

There was no immediate comment from the Shebaab, who throughout the week have refused to confirm or deny reports of Godance’s death.