The Minister of Petroleum and Minerals of the Federal Government of Somalia, Dahir Shire Mohamed, has strongly condemned statements made by Somali scholar Abdi Ismail Samatar regarding defense and petroleum agreements between Somalia and Turkey.
The minister said he was deeply concerned about the statements, describing them as misrepresenting bilateral cooperation, and describing the agreements as “fake” or “new colonialism”.
“Somalis are tired of so-called scholars who evaluate national affairs based on their own interests rather than the general interest of the nation,” the minister said.
Dahir Shire Mohamed stressed that the agreements were entered into transparently and in accordance with the laws and institutions of the country, and that they reflect an independent decision to advance national interests.
He noted that the cooperation is aimed at strengthening national power, security, and developing natural resources responsibly, for the benefit of current and future generations.
The minister also pointed out that, as a senator, Samatar could have obtained additional information about these agreements through official channels, making it regrettable that these issues were being made public without prior consultation and verification.
Finally, the minister said that constructive criticism is important, but it must be informed, balanced, and evidence-based.
