Somali social media has been abuzz with claims that Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Dheere may be flown to Qatar for cancer treatment. While unconfirmed, the rumors echo past cases where high-profile militants, such as Mohamed Sa’id ‘Atom,’ defected and found refuge in Doha. Observers suggest such moves could encourage further defections, though past examples like Mukhtar Roobow’s detention show uneven treatment of former leaders. Qatar’s involvement raises questions about its role as a potential mediator between Somalia’s Federal Government (FGS) and Al-Shabaab. Drawing on its history of brokering talks in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Doha could use such gestures to signal openness to dialogue. However, critics warn this would be a strategic mistake. Negotiating from a position of weakness risks legitimizing Al-Shabaab, whose power often stems more from Somalia’s fragmented governance than from ideological unity.