Thursday December 11, 2025
FILE- Aweys Mohamed Omar
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s presidential envoy for countering extremist ideology has denied reports claiming the federal government is holding secret negotiations with al-Shabab, calling the allegations false and intended to mislead the public.
Aweys Mohamed Omar said Thursday the government has never entered discussions with the militant group and has no plans to do so. The reports, which circulated widely on social media and appeared in several local outlets, suggested informal contacts were underway. Omar said the claims were designed to weaken public trust in the government’s ongoing military and ideological campaign against al-Shabab.
According to the envoy, the individuals spreading the rumours aim to disrupt security and distort gains made in rebuilding national institutions and strengthening defence capabilities. He said the government and Somali citizens remain aligned in their objective to defeat al-Shabab and prevent the spread of violent extremism.
Omar added that security agencies and government ministries are working jointly to safeguard the country and counter ideologies that threaten state-building efforts. The government has long insisted that al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate responsible for attacks across Somalia for more than 15 years, must be confronted through military pressure, ideological resistance, and financial disruption rather than negotiation.