MOGADISHU (SD) -Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, has stated that the government is ready to engage in dialogue with armed groups in the country if peace can be achieved, but he emphasized that they must first stop killings and attacks on innocent Somali civilians.

The Prime Minister, speaking at today’s launching ceremony of Principles for Peace in the country, affirmed that the ongoing conflict involving the Somali government and extremist groups is a quest for peace.

Hamza Barre acknowledged the government’s previous efforts to engage with militants, while now promising that legitimate grievances would not be disregarded if armed groups come to the negotiating table.

Many government officials in Somalia are cautious about openly stating that they will engage in dialogue with Al-Shabaab and Daesh (ISIS) even if they renounce their ongoing acts of violence in Somalia.