MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s opposition leaders on Tuesday accused the federal government of erratic diplomacy, underscoring significant missteps in its handling of escalating tensions with Addis Ababa over Ethiopia’s demands for access to Somali maritime territory.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Wadajir Party leader Abdirahman Abdishakur, and Member of Parliament Abdi Ismail Samatar criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration for failing to defend Somalia’s sovereignty against Ethiopian encroachment. They argued that instead of safeguarding national interests, the government had entered into vague agreements that pose a long-term threat to the country’s future.
The opposition figures questioned why President Mohamud traveled to Ethiopia, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the instigator of recent tensions through a controversial deal to build a naval base in Somaliland, did not visit Mogadishu. They described the President’s move as shortsighted and contrary to Somalia’s national interests.
They further emphasized that no individual, regardless of their position, has the right to relinquish Somalia’s maritime territory, asserting that Ethiopia’s claims to Somali waters must not be legitimized. Such actions, they cautioned, jeopardize prospects for lasting peace.
At a press conference in Mogadishu, Abdishakur delivered a sharp critique of President Mohamud, accusing him of auctioning off public land to private merchants in a bid to enrich himself and secure his grip on power ahead of the 2026 elections.
“Mohamud is at his weakest,” Abdishakur declared. “He has lost the support of the Somali public, is abandoned by the political elite, lacks backing from the international community, and even those who brought him to office have now turned their backs on him.”
The criticism extended beyond opposition leaders to the country’s intellectuals, who also voiced concerns over President Mohamud’s recent visit to Addis Ababa. There, he was allegedly humiliated by receiving a salute from landlocked Ethiopia’s navy, even as Ethiopia seeks to establish a naval base along Somalia’s Red Sea coast.
Professor Afyare Abdi Elmi, a prominent intellectual, joined the chorus of critics, condemning the government’s foreign policy.
“Recent events reveal that Somalia’s leadership has failed to manage the country’s foreign relations effectively, leading to significant setbacks on the international stage. This is unfortunate,” Elmi posted on X.
“We must understand and reflect on what transpired—distinguishing between structural limitations and the incompetence of our leaders. I hope that our leaders will learn from this blunder and adopt a more prudent, interest-driven foreign policy to protect Somalia’s national interests and enhance its global and regional standing.”
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