(27-06-2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – Reports are emerging that the Somali federal government is preparing to initiate dialogue with the extremist group Al-Shabaab, with talks potentially taking place in Qatar. Halqabsi News has obtained credible information from various sources suggesting that the governments of Qatar, Turkey, and Norway are facilitating these discussions.
In August of last year, a six-person delegation travelled to Al-Shabaab-controlled areas in South and Central Somalia to listen to the group’s demands. After 30 days of talks, the delegation departed for Doha, Qatar. Experts had predicted the talks but they have been delayed, possibly due to infighting within Al-Shabaab and opposition from some elements within the group to negotiations with the government.
Although a timeline for the current round of talks has not been confirmed, sources indicate that plans are underway, with a delegation of 300 individuals expected to represent the Somali government. This information has been shared by prominent members of the Somali Presidency and corroborated by other news sources.
MP Abdirahman Abdishakur has publicly addressed the planned dialogue, stating, “The talks that are said to be held with the Al-Shabaab terrorist group should not be an arbitrary decision. It should be approached through an inclusive national consultation, and the public should be informed transparently.”
Former NISA deputy commander Abdisalan Guled has also commented on the issue, noting a conference scheduled for July 22nd in Doha, Qatar, involving approximately 300 Somali participants. The purpose of the conference remains undisclosed, but Guled suggests, “The meeting of 300 Somali people is not something that can be hidden. It is possible that Qatar may be closer to Somalia than the UAE.”
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently alluded to the possibility of dialogue with Al-Shabaab during a visit to Norway, and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has previously expressed a willingness to negotiate if the group renounces violence.
Halqabsi News has spoken to several invited delegates to the Doha conference, and while the agenda has not been publicly released, the timing and context of the gathering have fueled speculation about its connection to the potential talks with Al-Shabaab.
Halqabsi News
