Somalia and Al-Shabaab: Categorical denial of peace talks
The Somali government and the terrorist group Al-Shabaab have flatly denied their intention to enter into peace negotiations.
The denial came in response to comments by Abdulfattah Qasim Mahmoud, Somalia’s deputy defense minister and member of parliament, that the terror group had asked for peace talks with the government.
“We have not received any requests from al-Shabaab and the deputy defense minister was wrong in his statements,” Somali national security advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali told Somali media.
The Somali government’s position on al-Shabaab has not changed, and its policy towards talks with the group remains unchanged, he said.
“We are not negotiating with them as a group,” Sheikh Ali said. “However, individuals who wish to leave the terrorist movement will undergo a comprehensive process to be eligible for an official government amnesty.”
The terrorist group denied holding any talks with the Somali government.
“The deputy defense minister’s claim that the group has asked for talks is baseless and I can confirm that there are no talks between us and they cannot be,” an al-Shabaab website said.
The group has in the past expressed its distrust of opening a dialog with the Somali government.
Since taking power last May, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed to wage an all-out war against al-Shabaab, which has stepped up operations since then.
The Somali army, in co-operation with local tribal forces, is intensifying its operations against the strongholds of Al-Shabaab terrorists in the southern and central provinces of the country.
On Saturday, Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud appointed Abdullahi Mohamed Nur as presidential adviser on preventing and combating violent extremism.
Mohamed Nur served as Minister of Internal Security from September 2021 to August 2022 and as a member of the Somali parliament, a prominent politician and businessman who was a fierce opponent during the previous regime and enjoyed close ties with the country’s political, security and economic circles.
