We are not talking to Al-Shabaab, Somalia president says

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has rebuffed claims that the Federal Republic of Somalia is in talks with the Al-Shabaab group, the militants who have caused chaos and disorder in the country for over a decade, killing thousands of innocent civilians in the process.

Since 2007, the Al-Shabaab have been striving to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia. Still, their efforts have dwindled with time due to security protocols and operations launched by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

With ATMIS kicking off strategic withdrawal from the country, there are concerns that the militants could run down key government installations thus, there is a need for talks for the sake of stability. The militants swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda, the Middle East-based terror network.

But in his statement, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has denied the existence of the talks, which have been tipped in the mainstream and social media networks within the Horn of Africa nation for the last few months.

“Today there are no ongoing talks, and still there is nothing to talk about," President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is serving his second term, said, noting that there were no such plans on the table presently as proclaimed by the media.

He did not rule possible talks in the future if “If God willing, there is something that belongs to both us, that we both agree on, then we’ll talk to them.”

The al-Shabaab have lost critical frontlines following the activation of the second phase of operations against them, forcing them to retreat in many parts of the country. The first phase targeted their hideouts in Hirshabelle and Galmudug.

Recently, Somalia announced the second phase of operations in Jubaland and Southwest states but the exercise is yet to gather momentum due to many prevailing factors, including the exit of ATMIS troops. Already, close to 9,000 ATMIS troops have left the country.

ATMIS along with the US Africa Command have played an integral role in enhancing Somali National Army capability in the last decade. The al-Shabaab have also lost key revenue collection points, coupled with internal wrangles which has tremendously weakened them.

GAROWE ONLINE