Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud says the Somalia-based
al-Shabab militant group is a
regional enemy that needs to be
confronted.
He was speaking exclusively to VOA
Somali, three days after al-Shabab
gunmen stormed and massacred
148 people at Garissa University in
northeastern Kenya.
The president expressed horror and
sadness at the Garissa attack. He
said al-Shababs aim to target
mostly Christians in Kenya is to
separate Muslims and Christians in
that country, but he said that
objective has failed because
Kenyans understand the militants
tactics.
The president said he spoke with
Kenyan leaders and urged Kenyans
to unite and confront al-Shabab
militants. President Mohamud said
the group is an enemy that has no
dignity. They kill Somalis and
their leaders, and there is nowhere
in Islam that says kill non-
Muslims.
Asked why terror attacks on Kenyan
soil have increased recently, and
whether Kenya has learned any
lessons from previous attacks, the
president said al-Shabab cant
target military and government
institutions, but now only targets
vulnerable areas because its easy
for them. He said this tactic shows
that they are in a desperate mood
and are coming to an end.
Some political leaders in Kenya
have urged the repatriation of
Somali refugees from the Dadab
camp in the wake of last week's
attack, accusing them of the
insecurity in Kenya. The Somali
president rejected that allegation,
saying there is no connection
between refugee camps and
terrorism activities. He said one
refugee can join the group, but that
the majority of the Somali refugees
are peace-loving people who reject
al-Shabab militants.
Asked about Kenyas plan to build a
wall along the border to keep out
al-Shabab attacks, the president
said he heard it from the media, but
he said a wall will not stop al-
Shababs hostility. He said we are
fighting an ideology, not fighters,
so a separation barrier cant solve
the problem.
Al-Shabab militants claim their
attack on Kenya was revenge for
Kenyas involvement in Somalia,
and they call on Kenya to withdraw
from Somalia. But the Somali
president rejected that assertion
and said, Its a propaganda. He
said the Kenyan people and their
leaders stand together in support of
Somalia, and that Somalia
appreciates that support.
Finally, asked if his government is
ready to talk to al-Shabab to resolve
the problem, he said his
government has offered an amnesty
to al-Shabab militants. He said
many fighters and leaders accepted
that offer and the government has
welcomed them, but he said his
government will continue to talk to
anyone in the al-Shabab group who
is willing to denounce violence.
Mohamud says the Somalia-based
al-Shabab militant group is a
regional enemy that needs to be
confronted.
He was speaking exclusively to VOA
Somali, three days after al-Shabab
gunmen stormed and massacred
148 people at Garissa University in
northeastern Kenya.
The president expressed horror and
sadness at the Garissa attack. He
said al-Shababs aim to target
mostly Christians in Kenya is to
separate Muslims and Christians in
that country, but he said that
objective has failed because
Kenyans understand the militants
tactics.
The president said he spoke with
Kenyan leaders and urged Kenyans
to unite and confront al-Shabab
militants. President Mohamud said
the group is an enemy that has no
dignity. They kill Somalis and
their leaders, and there is nowhere
in Islam that says kill non-
Muslims.
Asked why terror attacks on Kenyan
soil have increased recently, and
whether Kenya has learned any
lessons from previous attacks, the
president said al-Shabab cant
target military and government
institutions, but now only targets
vulnerable areas because its easy
for them. He said this tactic shows
that they are in a desperate mood
and are coming to an end.
Some political leaders in Kenya
have urged the repatriation of
Somali refugees from the Dadab
camp in the wake of last week's
attack, accusing them of the
insecurity in Kenya. The Somali
president rejected that allegation,
saying there is no connection
between refugee camps and
terrorism activities. He said one
refugee can join the group, but that
the majority of the Somali refugees
are peace-loving people who reject
al-Shabab militants.
Asked about Kenyas plan to build a
wall along the border to keep out
al-Shabab attacks, the president
said he heard it from the media, but
he said a wall will not stop al-
Shababs hostility. He said we are
fighting an ideology, not fighters,
so a separation barrier cant solve
the problem.
Al-Shabab militants claim their
attack on Kenya was revenge for
Kenyas involvement in Somalia,
and they call on Kenya to withdraw
from Somalia. But the Somali
president rejected that assertion
and said, Its a propaganda. He
said the Kenyan people and their
leaders stand together in support of
Somalia, and that Somalia
appreciates that support.
Finally, asked if his government is
ready to talk to al-Shabab to resolve
the problem, he said his
government has offered an amnesty
to al-Shabab militants. He said
many fighters and leaders accepted
that offer and the government has
welcomed them, but he said his
government will continue to talk to
anyone in the al-Shabab group who
is willing to denounce violence.
