Former Somali Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Abdirisaq Omar Mohamed, has sharply criticized the Somali government after accusing it of failing to properly verify the identity and intentions of foreign diplomats being sent to the country.
Abdirisaq, who posted his remarks on social media, said that this is a major mistake and a national disgrace that shows the government’s poor management of diplomatic relations.
“This is a major scandal and a disgrace. When the government fails to do the simplest task of verifying the identity of foreign diplomats being sent to Somalia, it turns out that you are dealing with diplomats with ulterior motives. This is sheer stupidity,” said Abdirisaq Omar Mohamed.
The remarks come amid a diplomatic row over foreign envoys accused of pursuing agendas that are incompatible with Somalia’s independence and unity.
Although he did not directly name the diplomat he was referring to, the Minister’s statement broadly reflects widespread concern about the federal government’s handling of foreign affairs, especially when it comes to protecting the country’s dignity.
The former minister’s statement was also widely shared on social media, generating strong reactions with many supporting his views, while others called on the government to respond publicly to such allegations.
It has been widely reported on social media that the Ethiopian government’s ambassador to Somalia was a person who strongly supported Somaliland’s secession from Somalia during the conflict between the Federal Government and Ethiopia over the waterway agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia.
