Never negotiate with terrorists dawg that's like the oldest rule in the book these aren't reasonable folk the only deal they'll agree to is one that gives them more power. Not only that you want clan elders to negotiate terms you done lost ur mind these elders will happily give up everything if the guys on the other side of the table are the same clan as them.
You wanna defeat AS you have to punch lower than them be willing to do things they aren't willing to do. The side willing to take things farther always wins that's war in a nutshell for you.
A lot of AS recruitment isn't even ideological , many people are coerced, blackmailed, or pressured into joining. Negotiations aren't about giving them power, they're a tool to fragment and weaken the group by peeling away those who aren't hardcore militants.
If you want a real-world example, look at how the Somali region of Ethiopia (Ogaden) stabilized. They didn’t defeat insurgency with pure force , they set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and invested in grassroots governance. Local councils were empowered, which fostered clan dialogue, built trust, and expanded inclusive governance.
That model worked. The same thing happened in Waqooyi Galbeed and Puntland , it was traditional elders and local agreements that brought stability, not endless military campaigns.
You can’t bomb your way to peace. Real, lasting solutions are always rooted in local legitimacy and representation.