U.S. Embassy denies issuing security warning over Somali president’s Las Anod visit
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The U.S. Embassy in Somalia on Wednesday denied online reports claiming it issued a security warning ahead of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s planned visit to the northern city of Las Anod, calling the claims false and urging the public to rely on its official channels.
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“The U.S. Embassy has not released any security warning concerning travel to Las Anod,” the embassy said in a statement, adding that people should consult only its official website and verified social media accounts for accurate updates. The embassy did not issue any additional guidance beyond the statement.
The denial came after unverified reports spread across social media Tuesday alleging Washington had cautioned against the Somali leader’s expected trip to Las Anod. President Hassan Sheikh is scheduled to travel Thursday, according to Somali officials, as federal and regional delegates gather in the city.
Las Anod is serving as the venue for the inauguration of Abdikarim Ahmed Ali, widely known as Firdhiye, the newly appointed regional president. Delegations from Somalia’s federal government and other stakeholders have been arriving in recent days to attend the ceremony.
The embassy’s rebuttal sought to stamp out the misleading posts and clarify that no U.S. security alert was in effect for Las Anod. “Please rely on information from our official website and social media channels,” the statement said.
While rumors around high-level travel are common online, the embassy’s swift clarification underscores how quickly misinformation can circulate in Somalia’s media environment, particularly around politically sensitive events. The U.S. Embassy did not reference the president’s itinerary or the inauguration in its statement, focusing instead on correcting the false alert attributed to it.
As of Wednesday evening, Somali authorities continued preparations for Thursday’s visit and the inauguration events in Las Anod, capital of a newly established regional administration. No separate advisories were issued by the Somali government concerning the president’s travel.
The embassy encouraged journalists and the public to verify any purported advisories through its official platforms. The U.S. mission in Mogadishu typically publishes alerts and statements on its website and repeats them across its verified social media accounts.
Neither the Somali presidency nor the regional administration immediately commented on the spread of the false warning. It was not clear who originated the reports that appeared online Tuesday, which cited no official documents or links to verified U.S. channels.
The president’s visit, if it proceeds as planned, is expected to draw national attention as federal officials, dignitaries and community leaders converge in Las Anod for the swearing-in of Firdhiye. The U.S. Embassy’s statement indicates Washington does not have a standing warning related specifically to that travel.
Members of the public seeking accurate updates from the U.S. government can find confirmed statements and alerts on the embassy’s official website and verified social media accounts.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
