KISMAYO (WDN) — Jubaland’s Minister of Information, Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, has sharply criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud following the conclusion of the AUSSOM Troop-Contributing Countries Summit in Kampala, accusing the Somali leader of dismissing legitimate regional concerns over Somalia’s prolonged political crisis.
The Kampala summit focused primarily on the future of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), whose operations continue to face serious funding shortfalls. Regional leaders also discussed Somalia’s political deadlock, with several participants emphasizing the need for dialogue between the Federal Government and opposition groups to safeguard national stability.
According to participants, President Hassan Sheikh objected to discussions concerning Somalia’s internal political dispute, arguing that disagreements between the Federal Government and the opposition were domestic matters that should not be debated at an international summit. His remarks drew a swift response from Jubaland.
In a strongly worded statement, Minister Abdifatah argued that the Kampala gathering was not a political rally but a summit attended by regional leaders whose countries have invested heavily in Somalia’s security and stabilization over the past two decades.
“Kampala is not Banadir, where supporters simply applaud the President,” the minister said. “This was a meeting of countries that have committed enormous financial and military resources to the peace and stability that much of Somalia enjoys today, alongside the sacrifices made by our own Somali security forces.”
The minister suggested that countries contributing troops and financial support to Somalia have a legitimate interest in discussing both the country’s security challenges and the political disputes that could undermine hard-won gains against Al-Shabaab. He went further, accusing President Hassan Sheikh of presenting Somalis with what he described as a false political choice: either accept his continued rule or face national collapse.
“The President appears to be telling the Somali people that either his government remains in power, or the country descends into chaos and violence,” Abdifatah alleged. He argued that such rhetoric risks deepening political polarization at a time when Somalia requires broader national consensus.
Concluding his statement, the Jubaland minister expressed confidence that political accountability would eventually prevail. “Leaders are coming together, difficult truths are being spoken, and, God willing, accountability will come,” he wrote in a brief message posted on his official Facebook page.
Growing Regional Concern
The exchange underscores the widening rift between the Federal Government and some Federal Member States, particularly Jubaland, as disagreements over elections, constitutional reforms, and power-sharing continue to dominate Somalia’s political landscape.
The Kampala summit highlighted an increasingly shared view among Somalia’s regional partners that sustainable security cannot be separated from political stability. While the summit’s principal agenda centered on the future of AUSSOM and securing long-term funding for the mission, discussions also reflected growing concern that Somalia’s unresolved political divisions could jeopardize gains made against militant groups.
As Somalia approaches another critical political period, the increasingly public war of words between Mogadishu and regional leaders illustrates the formidable challenge of achieving both military success and political consensus—objectives many regional partners now regard as inseparable.
WardheerNews