Mogadishu (WDN) –Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Salah Ahmed Jama, has sparked widespread surprise and disbelief after declaring what many have described as performative politics, that the country has moved beyond its dependence on foreign assistance—a statement that many Somalis say bears little resemblance to the country’s current political and economic realities.

His remarks have generated intense debate across political and public circles, with many questioning how a nation that has relied heavily on international financial and security assistance for more than three decades could suddenly describe itself as self-sufficient.

The comments come at a particularly delicate moment. Somalia remains deeply dependent on foreign donors to finance its budget, support humanitarian programs, train and equip its security forces, and sustain the African Union peace support mission. At the same time, the country continues to face a prolonged political crisis, with negotiations between the Federal Government and opposition groups remaining deadlocked amid disputes over elections and constitutional legitimacy.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s statement also coincides with one of the most significant challenges facing Somalia’s security sector. The United States has confirmed that it will end its logistical support for approximately 23,000 African Union peacekeepers serving under AUSSOM at the end of this year. In response, the African Union and troop-contributing countries have launched an urgent search for alternative funding from the European Union, the United Nations, and other international partners to prevent the mission from facing a financial crisis.

Security analysts have repeatedly warned that Somalia’s security forces are still undergoing development and may not yet be fully prepared to independently assume nationwide security responsibilities should international support decline significantly.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s remarks surprised many observers. “We are now a self-sufficient nation in every respect. We have moved beyond dependence on assistance from the international community and the United States,” Salah Ahmed Jama declared.

He made the comments while addressing the launch of a strategy meeting for Somalia’s National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC), where he emphasized the government’s plans to expand trade and integrate Somali products into markets across the East African Community and beyond.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Somalia is pursuing a comprehensive economic strategy designed to strengthen domestic production, expand exports, and reduce long-term reliance on foreign support.

Few Somalis would disagree with the aspiration. For decades, many citizens have hoped to see their country regain genuine economic independence, build sustainable institutions, and free itself from the cycle of international aid that has often been accompanied by significant external influence over domestic affairs. Yet many economists and political observers argue that aspiration should not be confused with current reality.

Somalia continues to depend extensively on international partners for budgetary assistance, security financing, humanitarian relief, infrastructure development, and institutional support. Much of the country’s public sector—including significant portions of its security architecture—remains closely linked to donor funding.

Critics viewed the Deputy Prime Minister’s declaration as strikingly detached from the realities confronting the country. Some commentators who spoke to WardheerNews, remarked that such a claim would be difficult to reconcile even with publicly available government financial data, while others described the statement as unusually optimistic at a time when Somalia faces mounting uncertainty over both its political future and the sustainability of international security assistance.

Whether the remarks reflected confidence in Somalia’s long-term economic ambitions, performative politics or an overly ambitious assessment of its current position, they have undoubtedly become one of the most talked-about political statements of the week.

For many Somalis, the desire for genuine self-reliance remains unquestioned. The debate, however, centers on a simpler question: Has Somalia already reached that destination—or is it still a long way from getting there?

WardheerNews