By Abdijaliil Osman

Reshuffling for Survival, Not Reform

A minor cabinet reshuffle undertaken by Prime Minister Xamse Cabdi Barre has once again exposed the misguided direction in which Somalia’s political leadership is heading. These new changes — replacing the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs and appointing a new Deputy Prime Minister — appear more like an attempt to distract the public rather than to offer genuine, lasting solutions. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Xamze Cabdi Barre seem to have prioritised their personal interests over the national good, using this reshuffle as a temporary “painkiller” that will not meaningfully alter the serious political challenges facing the country today.

The reshuffle affected: Jibriil Cabdirashiid, formerly the Minister of Defence, who was promoted to Second Deputy Prime Minister; Ahmed Macallin Fiqi, previously Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was transferred to the Ministry of Defence; and Cabdisalaan Cali Daahir, the former Second Deputy Prime Minister, who was assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The question thus arises: are these moves likely to improve the country’s deteriorating security situation, resolve the political crises plaguing state institutions, or strengthen Somalia’s weak foreign relations? Or are they merely a shuffling of personalities, leaving the root problems entirely unaddressed?

A: A Reshuffle Driven by Personal Interests

Upon deeper examination, this reshuffle appears motivated by political cronyism and favours, rather than by performance or national responsibility. The President and Prime Minister seem to have used these appointments as part of a balancing act to appease political allies and preserve factional power-sharing, rather than to appoint the most capable individuals for the roles.

For example, Jibriil Cabdirashiid, now promoted to Second Deputy Prime Minister, had served as Defence Minister for less than a month before being removed. This reflects a disturbing absence of planning and accountability within President Hassan Sheikh’s administration: if an individual was deemed unfit to manage the Ministry of Defence, why entrust him with another senior position?

B: Lack of a Coherent Security Strategy

Somalia’s security situation remains dire, and there is no indication that this reshuffle will contribute meaningfully to the fight against terrorist groups. The Federal Government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been conducting large-scale operations against Al-Shabaab, but those operations have largely stalled in recent months, with reports indicating that Al-Shabaab has regained territories previously liberated by Somali forces and the African Union.

Official reports confirm that federal forces are struggling to maintain security and have lost control of previously recovered areas, especially in the central and southern regions. This highlights the fragility of the gains that were once celebrated, as the enemy regains strength.

Moreover, Somalia remains heavily reliant on foreign military support to maintain security. Information emerging from a recent Kampala summit of defence and foreign ministers of regional countries indicates that Somalia is still not fully prepared to independently handle its national security. Regional forces under AUSSOM are now seeking to deploy an additional 8,000 peacekeeping troops to contain the rising threat.

Even the former Foreign Minister, Ahmed Fiqi (now appointed as Minister of Defence), supported the idea of reinforcing the foreign military presence, acknowledging that Somalia alone cannot yet defeat domestic insurgents. This is a stark admission of failure: the current leadership has not succeeded in building a strong national army capable of defending the country independently — an undeniable weakness that exposes the collapse of the security strategy.

Perhaps the worst aspect of this reshuffle concerns the Ministry of Defence, the backbone of national security. Within a month, this crucial ministry has undergone two successive leadership changes — a clear sign of confusion and poor governance.

In March this year, Prime Minister Xamse dismissed the long-serving Defence Minister, Cabdulqaadir Mohamed Nur, replacing him with Jibriil Cabdirashiid. That appointment, allegedly part of the “war effort against Al-Shabaab”, quickly showed worrying signs, given Jibriil’s reputation for pursuing narrow clan interests.

This constant turnover in leadership severely demoralises front-line soldiers. Soldiers require steady leadership and inspiration; seeing their minister replaced today and another tomorrow, with no guarantee of loyalty or respect towards the military, breeds distrust and disarray.

The newly appointed Defence Minister, Ahmed Fiqi, is remembered for harshly criticising Somali armed forces and even publicly insulting the Chief of the Defence Forces, General Odowaa Yusuf Raage, whom he described as “a mere child unfit to lead the army”, while disparaging the elite Gorgor forces as “private militia loyal to Farmaajo.” Such statements blatantly violate the dignity and decorum of state institutions.

No formal apology has ever been issued by Fiqi for these insults. His appointment to the Ministry of Defence is a direct blow to the honour of Somalia’s military forces. An army that is insulted and mismanaged, led by political elites staging a play of power-sharing, cannot be expected to deliver genuine victories in security or warfare.

This situation constitutes a scandal for President Hassan Sheikh and Prime Minister Xamze, who have allowed a man who defamed the nation’s armed forces to assume their leadership.

C: Aimlessness in Foreign Relations

Somalia’s foreign relations have in recent times lacked a firm foundation. Although the government has made some efforts to restore Somalia’s international reputation and seek foreign support, Somalia is still not seen as a prominent or influential actor regionally or globally.

This cabinet reshuffle offered no indication of a new, coherent foreign policy strategy. Instead, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was removed and reassigned to Defence, while the Deputy Prime Minister was moved into the Foreign Affairs post.

It remains unclear how this mere swapping of positions addresses the country’s diplomatic weakness, given that both individuals were already part of an administration that achieved little in foreign affairs.

Indeed, Somalia remains heavily dependent on international aid and assistance to sustain basic services and security. There is still no steady inflow of foreign investment, and the government’s diplomatic policies have yet to attract new global partnerships or economic opportunities.

In fact, the government openly admits that Somalia continues to rely on foreign assistance to implement its security transition plan and bolster the economy. Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Mohamed Omar recently remarked in Kampala, “Somalia alone cannot defeat terrorism and still requires support.” Such statements highlight how far Somalia remains from achieving diplomatic and security self-sufficiency.

This reshuffle does not reflect any new strategy for how Somalia intends to engage with the international community.

Furthermore, reports indicate that the appointment of the new Foreign Minister was marred by internal wrangling. Independent sources suggest that President Hassan Sheikh wanted to appoint a Somali-American closely linked to the US Republican Party, while the Prime Minister insisted on naming his own Deputy, Cabdisalaan Cali Daahir. Although the latter was ultimately appointed, this episode revealed the degree to which Somalia’s foreign policy has become hostage to internal political interests, rather than being guided by national strategic imperatives.

One faction wanted to satisfy American allies; the other sought to reward personal loyalists. Both approaches undermine sound diplomatic practice.

After nearly three years in office, one must ask: what has the government truly achieved in restoring Somalia’s global standing? There has been no significant foreign investment, no notable strengthening of regional trade ties, and no visible Somali role in shaping regional politics in the Horn of Africa.

Instead, Somali leaders continue to plead for foreign support, highlighting an enduring incapacity.

Conclusion

The overall picture emerging from this minor cabinet reshuffle is deeply troubling. It casts doubt on hopes that the country’s leadership was steering Somalia in the right direction. It has become evident that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Xamze Cabdi Barre have once again chosen a shortcut driven by personal interest, using the reshuffle as a “painkiller” to quell public discontent and resolve political infighting, without addressing the major problems that have long afflicted the nation.

It is time to choose courage and genuine change over deceit and political horse-trading. The Somali people have their eyes wide open. They know the difference between right and wrong. They are ready to support effective leadership — but they have little patience left for opportunistic and self-serving rulers.

Abdijaliil Osman
Independent Journalist and host of Abdijaliil Show
Email: abdijalilosman@gmail.com