Al-Shabaab Attitudes Towards Negotiations

Finding a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict in Somalia has eluded both national and international actors since the fall of the Siad Barre regime. This chapter assesses the possibilities for negotiations with Al-Shabaab. It draws on two separate field research missions conducted in 2016 to see whether there is interest on the part of Al-Shabaab leaders to disengage and pursue political dialogue with the Somali Federal Government. It also considers the conditions in which they will negotiate, where negotiations could take place, and who could participate in negotiations. Analysis of the research findings suggests that Al-Shabaab's leadership is willing to pursue conditional political dialogue with the Somali government as long as certain conditions are met. These conditions are perhaps better considered as political demands, which appear to be quite far-reaching. These include the withdrawal of foreign forces and a general amnesty for Al-Shabaab members.