MOGADISHU (SD) – The International Crisis Group (ICG) has said in a statement that the conflict between the Somali government and Al Shabaab could be resolved through dialogue.

The ICG said in a released report that the fighting between the Somali government and Al Shabaab had caused more problems, and recommended that the solution be to dialogue.

The International Crises Group (ICG) has called on Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to enter into dialogue with al-Shabaab, and urged him to test whether Al-Shabaab is open to talk.

The ICG said in a statement that Al Shabaab could not be defeated militarily at this time, and recommended that an alternative solution be found.

The ICG highlighted that when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was running for office, that he promised reconciliation, and the ICG questioned the possibility that Al Shabaab could be involved in the reconciliation.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said they will first go to war with Al Shabaab to reduce its power before opening talks with the group, which now controls many towns and villages.

Mahad Karatay, al-Shabaab’s deputy leader, recently told Chanel 4 that he would never enter into talks with the Somali government, which he said was not practicing Islamic law.