Somali government denies negotiating with al-Shabab amidst military pause

Somali government denies negotiating with al-Shabab amidst military pause

Source: Hiiraan ONline, Saturday June 29, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali government has denied social media reports that it is negotiating with the al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group al-Shabab, a few months after military operations against the group stopped.

National Security Adviser Hussein Moallim Mohamud wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the government is not in talks with al-Shabab. He reiterated that President Mohamud has set clear conditions for any potential negotiations.

“They must sever any links with global terror groups and accept Somalia’s territorial integrity. They must be willing to pursue their political agenda peacefully,” the adviser said.

Two years ago, the Somali government declared a ‘total war’ against al-Shabab. The operations began when local people in the Hiiraan region organized themselves against the group. The government later joined the fight and took over the operation’s lead.

Despite setbacks the joint forces face, some elite figures and security experts have called for talks with al-Shabab. President Mohamud, speaking recently at the Oslo Forum, emphasized that the endgame with al-Shabab will ultimately involve dialogue. His remarks have sparked reactions from politicians and security commentators.

Since 2007, al-Shabab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council.