MOGADISHU (SD) – In a statement that has sparked considerable debate, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared that members of the Al-Shabaab militant group possess the right to obtain National Identification Cards as Somali citizens, while simultaneously emphasizing the government’s commitment to a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy.

The President made these remarks during Thursday’s closing ceremony of the Second National Identification Conference (SNIDC2025) in Mogadishu.

“Any member of Al-Shabaab should get an ID card; they are Somali citizens. No one can strip them of their citizenship,” President Mohamud stated.

The President’s comments come amid ongoing international efforts to combat Al-Shabaab. The United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and other Western nations designate Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization.

These countries view the group as a significant security threat to regional stability in East Africa, an organization with ideological ties to Al-Qaeda and a perpetrator of widespread violence against civilians, African Union forces, and Somali government targets.

Western governments have implemented strict sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezes against Al-Shabaab members while providing military and counterterrorism support to the Somali government.

President Mohamud addressed this apparent contradiction, noting: “The whole world has citizens who commit crimes—they remain citizens of their nations while being held accountable under the law. Our counterterrorism operations continue unabated, but we must distinguish between citizenship rights and criminal accountability.”

Security analysts suggest the President’s comments reflect a sophisticated dual-track approach: upholding fundamental legal principles while maintaining military and political pressure on the militant group. The national ID system is viewed as a crucial tool for enhancing security screening and state surveillance capabilities.

The President also praised the progress made by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), highlighting that the modern digital identification system represents a crucial pillar for state-building, security, and social service development.

“Somalia must embrace modern governance systems, including a reliable national identification framework,” President Mohamud asserted. “We cannot remain where we were 35 years ago. We must operate under a constitutional framework and adhere to international norms.”

The conference concluded with a call for all government institutions to collaborate in implementing the national identification system, seen as essential for both service delivery and strengthening national sovereignty.