MOGADISHU, Somalia— Somalia’s prime minister on Wednesday defended his government’s decision to stay silent in the face of recent inflammatory remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has escalated attacks on Somali immigrants living in the United States.
Speaking at the Sixth Youth Leadership and Innovation Summit 2025, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Mogadishu had no interest in turning Trump’s comments into a political confrontation that could amplify his rhetoric.
- Advertisement -
“It is easier to ignore President Donald Trump than to respond and give meaning to his statements,” Barre said. “Trump did not insult Somalia alone — he has made negative remarks about many countries, including Nigeria and South Africa. It is not something we consider worth making an issue of.”
Barre’s remarks came hours after Trump once again repeated derogatory and discriminatory comments targeting Somali Americans, describing them as “garbage” who should not be welcomed in the United States.
The prime minister framed the government’s response as a strategic choice to avoid elevating comments he characterized as deliberately provocative. He emphasized that engaging directly would hand Trump the attention he seeks and distract from Somalia’s domestic priorities.
Trump’s increasingly hostile language has heightened anxiety among Somali communities in the U.S., who say the president’s renewed attacks have contributed to fear and uncertainty. Community advocates have warned that such rhetoric can translate into discrimination and harassment, particularly for Somali refugees and first-generation families.
Barre’s message, delivered before a national audience of youth leaders and entrepreneurs, echoed a broader call for restraint. The prime minister urged Somalis to focus on unity and progress at home rather than getting drawn into rhetorical battles abroad.
He also noted that Somalia was not singled out, pointing out that Trump has cast similarly negative remarks at other African nations. By declining to respond, Barre signaled the government’s intent to deny oxygen to campaign-style attacks while maintaining its diplomatic footing.
Barre did not announce any formal diplomatic protest or request for clarification, reinforcing the government’s approach of avoiding escalation. His remarks suggested confidence that a muted official response would better serve Somalia’s interests than entering a transatlantic war of words.
Trump’s comments have long been a point of concern within the Somali diaspora, a community deeply connected to family and events in Somalia. Barre’s stance provides a measure of official guidance: acknowledge the harm such rhetoric can cause, but resist amplifying it through a state-level confrontation.
As the prime minister wrapped up his remarks, his message rested on a simple premise: not every provocation merits a reply, especially when silence can be a strategy of its own.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
