Monday March 10, 2025 {HMC} Somalia’s ambassador to the United States, Dahir Hassan Abdi, has denied reports that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dismissed a recent security warning from the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, saying the president’s remarks were unrelated to the advisory.
In an interview with VOA Somali, the ambassador clarified that President Mohamud’s speech on Friday—where he accused both foreign and domestic actors of fueling instability—was not a rejection of the U.S. security alert.
“The president’s address was aimed at the Somali people and focused on the country’s ongoing security challenges, the fight against Al-Shabaab, and the need to support Somali security forces,” Abdi said.
His remarks come on the heels of growing concerns over Somalia’s security situation, following a surge in Al-Shabaab attacks in central regions. The militant group has launched coordinated assaults, temporarily capturing key towns, including Balcad, which lies just 30 kilometers from Mogadishu, before Somali forces reclaimed control.
The U.S. Embassy issued a security advisory earlier in the week, warning of “potential imminent attacks” in Mogadishu, including at Aden Adde International Airport. The alert led Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways to suspend flights to the Somali capital, inflicting economic losses and disrupting travel. Security analysts have criticized the warning, arguing that it created panic without offering actionable intelligence to thwart the threat.
During his speech, President Mohamud dismissed foreign security concerns as “propaganda” and reaffirmed Somalia’s ability to handle its security affairs independently. He urged Somalis to avoid areas controlled by Al-Shabaab, warning that both air and ground strikes would target the militant group’s hideouts.
Abdi added that Somalia maintains a strong security partnership with the United States and regularly shares intelligence with U.S. officials. He also pointed out that the Somali government took the embassy’s warning seriously, citing last week’s Cabinet meeting decisions on security measures.
“The Somali government remains the authoritative source for official security updates,” he added.
Source VOA
