Somalia President Rules Out Al-Shabaab Return as War Continues

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has ruled out the possibility of Al-Shabaab regaining control over the country, while acknowledging that the government’s military campaign against the militant group could continue for some time.

Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Hassan Sheikh said Somalia’s security situation has undergone significant changes in recent years, pointing to the government’s efforts to push Al-Shabaab away from areas surrounding the capital, Mogadishu.

The president said Al-Shabaab once maintained a significant presence across large parts of Somalia and was capable of carrying out attacks in areas close to the presidential palace. He said the group is now operating hundreds of kilometres away from Mogadishu, describing the development as evidence of a major shift in the country’s security environment.

“This 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 Sheikh said.

He credited Somali government forces and their partners with making progress in the campaign against Al-Shabaab, arguing that the group’s current capabilities are significantly different from those it possessed during earlier periods of the conflict.

Hassan Sheikh also dismissed the prospect of Somalia returning to widespread civil war, clan-based violence or political disputes escalating into armed conflict.

“It is impossible for Al-Shabaab to return, and it is also impossible for the country to return to civil war, clan conflict or political conflict,” he said.

The president’s comments come as Somalia continues to face political tensions involving the Federal Government, some federal member states and opposition politicians.

Opposition figures have expressed concern that prolonged political disputes could undermine the government’s campaign against Al-Shabaab and create opportunities for the group to rebuild its influence. They have also warned that continued political divisions could affect international confidence and potentially reduce external support for Somalia’s security efforts.

The opposition has argued that political disagreements risk diverting attention and resources away from the fight against Al-Shabaab at a time when the government is seeking to consolidate security gains.

Hassan Sheikh, however, maintained that Somalia has moved beyond the period when Al-Shabaab was able to exercise extensive territorial control. He insisted that the group no longer has a realistic pathway to retake control of the country as a whole.

The president’s remarks reflect the government’s position that, despite continuing security challenges and political tensions, Al-Shabaab’s territorial reach and military capabilities have been substantially reduced compared with previous years.