File Photo/Somali Times
The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, who gave an interview to Al Jazeera International Television, said that he is ready to enter into dialogue with Al-Shabab terrorist group.
President Hassan Sheikh has set conditions for reconciliation with Al-Shabab, the conditions that the president did not mention the Al-Jazeera interview he gave.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Hassan Sheikh mentioned that the people who fight for Al-Shabab are mostly young Somalis, and they have no other country to live in.
President Hassan Sheikh is stressed that Al-Shabab terrorist group cannot be defeated by military force alone. He said his government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to fight Al-Shabab, including military, religious, and economic measures.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
However, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud said last year when he won office that his government will hold talks with Al-Shabab when the power of Al-Shabab is weakened and the government removes them from the territory they control.
The Somali government is now in control of much of the land that was controlled by Al-Shabab for the last 15 years, as a result of a 3-month operation that removed Al-Shabab from most of Hirshabeelle and Galmudug.