Al-Shabaab Cannot Take Control of Somalia, Says President

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud whose term ended in May this year has said the fight against Al-Shabaab could continue for some time, but ruled out any possibility of the Islamist militant group gaining control of Somalia as it once did.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hassan said the security situation in Somalia had changed significantly, pointing to what he described as progress in the campaign against Al-Shabaab.

“The war may continue for a little longer, but there is no possibility that Al-Shabaab can once again take control of the entire country,” Hassan said.

The president recalled a period when Al-Shabaab had expanded its influence across large parts of Somalia and was able to carry out attacks close to the capital's presidential compound. He said the group is now pushed back hundreds of kilometres from Mogadishu.

Hassan said the change reflected gains made by Somali security forces and their international partners in operations against the group. He did not provide details of the areas he was referring to or give a timeline for the eventual end of the conflict.

Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than 15 years. The group has carried out deadly attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of the country and continues to control or operate in rural areas, despite losing several major towns and territory in recent government offensives.

Hassan also rejected the prospect of Somalia returning to the prolonged civil wars, clan conflicts or political violence that have marked parts of the country's history.

“Al-Shabaab coming back is not possible, and it is also not possible for the country to return to civil war, clan warfare or political conflict,” he said.

His comments come as Somalia faces a separate political dispute over elections, constitutional changes and the future of the country's federal system. Opposition figures have warned that failure among Somali political actors to resolve their differences could create an opening for Al-Shabaab and weaken international engagement with Somalia after more than three decades of foreign support.

The government has continued to present the fight against Al-Shabaab as a central national priority, while seeking greater responsibility for Somali forces as international military support evolves.

Hassan's remarks offered a confident assessment of Somalia's security trajectory, even as Al-Shabaab remains capable of launching attacks and operating in parts of the country. The president said the ongoing campaign could take more time, but maintained that the group no longer has the capacity to regain nationwide control.

GAROWE ONLINE