President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud declares war on Al-Shabab

 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud has vowed to defeat al-Shabaab, which he says has re-emerged in the country during the five years of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's rule.

"Most of the districts that were liberated when I was president during my first term, have fallen out of control again," said President Hassan Sheikh in an interview with The Economist.

During Farmajo's presidency, al-Shabaab is believed to have become heavily integrated into government institutions, particularly the security services.

The group now controls large swathes of territory, and levies taxes on most businesses in the country, especially those in Mogadishu where the group earns most.

President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud said that Al-Shabaab today collects more taxes than the government, which has established a system of government within the federal government, which he described as unfortunate.

During Hassan Sheikh's first term, al-Shabaab was not so powerful. Although some traders were taxed, they were not as big as Farmajo's five years.

The new president has announced his intention to launch a new offensive against al-Shabaab, to push back into the countryside. He said talks with the group could then take place.

"Our vision is to dispel the Al-Shabaab rhetoric and show the public that the government is upholding their ideology. "This means waging a two-pronged war," he said.