MOGADISHU —Somalia’s PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamudon Thursday implicitly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Somalia “has no functioning government,” urging foreign partners to judge the country by its present progress rather than its past chaos.
Speaking at the Leadership and Innovation Forum, Mohamud said many outside actors still default to a narrative of failure that no longer reflects Somalia’s current trajectory.
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“Many people still look down on us, judging Somalia only by what happened before and not seeing what is happening today, the progress being made, and the efforts of the Somali people,” Mohamud said. “I say: move on from yesterday. The Somali nation has risen; it has moved forward.”
Trump has in recent months escalated rhetoric targeting Somali immigrants in the United States, especially in Minnesota, publicly urging immigration authorities to take tougher action against undocumented Somalis. The stance has fueled a political standoff with Rep. Ilhan Omar and stirred tensions within Somali-American communities.
Neither the White House nor the U.S. government, which remains a pivotal security partner for Mogadishu, has formally commented on the exchange. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu continues to be among Washington’s key diplomatic missions in Africa. Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also refrained from issuing a statement.
- Mohamud urges partners to recognize Somalia’s recent gains, not just its past instability.
- Trump’s remarks and immigration stance have heightened tension with Somali-American communities.
- With 147 days left in his term, Mohamud has yet to present a consensus election model, raising stability concerns.
Mohamud’s pushback comes as Somalia passes the three-decade mark since the collapse of its central state. Despite notable advances in Mogadishu’s political institutions and the federal system, the country still lacks agreement on a unified national electoral framework. With 147 days remaining in his term, the president has not unveiled a consensus-based model acceptable to federal member states and opposition figures — a gap that some fear could sharpen political divisions ahead of the vote.
Security remains Somalia’s most sensitive fault line. While federal forces have mounted offensives against al-Shabab, the militant group retains capabilities in rural areas and continues to threaten the capital. Security in Mogadishu is still heavily supported by foreign partners, led by the United States, according to officials. Diplomatic sources say Washington has grown increasingly uneasy with Mohamud’s handling of relations with federal member states and opposition politicians, citing unilateral moves on election rules and constitutional changes.
That unease underscores the delicate balance Mohamud must strike: reassuring external backers that Somalia’s governance is on firmer footing while persuading domestic rivals to buy into a roadmap for elections and constitutional reform. The president’s remarks appeared aimed at both audiences—arguing that Somalia’s institutional recovery and public resilience are too often overlooked, even as political disagreements persist.
Trump’s comment that Somalia lacks a functioning government lands at a time when Mogadishu is seeking to consolidate gains in security, fiscal management and regional diplomacy. Somali officials frequently point to gradual improvements in public revenue collection, the return of diplomatic missions and a more assertive federal presence beyond the capital. Yet the durability of those gains will hinge on reaching consensus rules of the game — and on keeping key security partners engaged.
For Somalia’s leaders and communities, the immediate test is whether political actors can coalesce around an election framework that averts a crisis of legitimacy. For international partners, the question is how to calibrate support for security and governance while pressing for inclusive politics. In both cases, the next few months will be decisive.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
