Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Al-Shabaab cannot regain control of Somalia, despite the militant group’s continued attacks and presence in parts of the country.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has ruled out the possibility of Al-Shabaab regaining control of the country, saying the militant group could not return to the position it once held despite the conflict likely continuing.
“The war may continue for some time, but there is no possibility that Al-Shabaab will return and take control of the entire country,” Hassan Sheikh said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“Al-Shabaab’s return is impossible. Likewise, a return to civil war, clan conflict or political conflict is impossible,” he added.
The president said Al-Shabaab no longer controls Somalia’s major cities, rejecting claims that the group operates a “parallel government” alongside the federal authorities.
He said Somalia was now leading its own military strategy against Al-Shabaab and that the opening of new fronts had pushed the militants into rural areas.
Hassan Sheikh also dismissed the idea that Al-Shabaab’s taxation system amounted to governance, saying the group collected money through fear and coercion rather than providing services to the communities from which it extracts funds.
Al-Shabaab, however, retains significant military capabilities across parts of central and southern Somalia and continues to carry out attacks, bombings and assassinations targeting government forces, officials and civilians.
The group has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade and remains capable of launching deadly attacks even in areas under government control.
‘Strongest partner’
In the interview, Hassan Sheikh described the United States as Somalia’s strongest partner in the fight against militant groups, saying security cooperation between Mogadishu and Washington remained ongoing.
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His comments came as the president met in Mogadishu with Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs.
Somalia’s presidency said the two discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between Somalia and the United States.
The presidency did not say whether the meeting specifically addressed military operations against Al-Shabaab.
The meeting came as the United States has significantly increased airstrikes in Somalia this year against Al-Shabaab and Islamic State militants.
US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, has carried out dozens of airstrikes in Somalia in recent months, many of them in coordination with the Somali government.
Washington also provides training, equipment and other support to Somali forces, including the elite Danab special forces, which have played a prominent role in operations against Al-Shabaab.
Somalia has been battling Al-Shabaab since the group emerged as an insurgent force following the collapse of the Islamic Courts Union in 2007. The militants were pushed out of Mogadishu and other major urban centres but have continued to exploit weak state institutions, rural grievances and security gaps.
The government has repeatedly pledged to defeat the group through military operations while strengthening state institutions and local security forces. But Al-Shabaab has demonstrated resilience, carrying out attacks and maintaining influence in some rural areas despite sustained military pressure.
Hassan Sheikh’s latest comments reflect his government’s continued confidence that the militants can be contained and ultimately defeated, even as the security campaign remains ongoing.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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