The United States has removed a former senior leader of Somalia’s al-Shabab militant group from its terror list, the Somali government says.

"This follows negotiations between the Somali and the US governments to establish clearly and beyond doubt that Zakariya Ismail Hersi has renounced violence, rejected the terror group al-Shabab, and has fully embraced the peace process," Somali presidential spokesman, Daud Aweis, said in a statement on Sunday.

American authorities have not yet commented on the remarks.

In 2012, the administration of US President Barack Obama offered USD 3 million for any information conducive to the arrest of Hersi, al-Shabab’s former intelligence chief.

In December 2014, Hersi reportedly surrendered himself to Somali security forces in the region of Gedo near the Kenyan border.

Some political observers believe Hersi was forced to give in after engaging in a conflict with forces loyal to Ahmed Abdi Godane, al-Shabab’s former leader who was killed in a US airstrike in September last year.

Washington's decision will encourage other members of the militant group to give in, Aweis argued.

"The Federal Government reiterates its message to those still trapped inside al-Shabab, whether leader or foot soldier: if you are willing to embrace the path of peace, abandon violence as a means of conflict resolution," the statement noted.

On Saturday, Somalia announced that Abdullahi Ahmed Muhumed, a top Al-Shabab leader, had surrendered to officials in central Galgaluud region.

Somalia has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants since 2006.