Senior figures within Al-Shabaab have begun reaching out to the Federal Government of Somalia to explore surrender options, following sustained military pressure that has significantly reduced the group’s operational space, Somalia’s Minister of Defence said on Saturday.

Speaking to the press in Mogadishu, Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said the development comes amid an intensified offensive by the Somali National Army, which he said has left senior Al-Shabaab leaders without safe havens.

The minister said both rank-and-file fighters and senior commanders are increasingly recognising the futility of the group’s campaign. According to the Ministry of Defence, more than 60 Al-Shabaab fighters are surrendering to government forces each month, with several senior figures reportedly initiating contact to negotiate surrender under the government’s amnesty framework.

The Somali National Army has recently stepped up operations against Al-Shabaab positions across southern and central Somalia, targeting key infrastructure and operational cells.

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, SNA forces carried out a planned operation in the Aboorey area, killing several militants who were allegedly preparing explosive attacks, military officials said. Earlier, on January 30, four fighters were killed in a targeted operation in southern Somalia.

In Lower Shabelle region, government forces said they had completed clearance operations in Awdheegle district and secured the town to prevent militant re-infiltration.

Minister Fiqi reiterated that the government remains open to accepting defectors who renounce violence. He said the national amnesty programme allows former combatants to reintegrate into society following a structured vetting, rehabilitation, and deradicalisation process.