Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has defended his administration’s constitutional reforms, security policies and foreign relations while accusing unnamed foreign actors of attempting to keep Somalia trapped in insecurity and underdevelopment, arguing that the country’s future ultimately depends on stronger institutions, political stability and national unity.
In a wide-ranging interview with Dawan Africa, the president addressed some of the most contentious issues facing Somalia today, including constitutional amendments, political tensions in Mogadishu, the fight against Al-Shabaab, relations with federal member states, ties with Türkiye and the United States, and the growing geopolitical debate surrounding Somaliland and Israel.
The interview comes at a politically sensitive moment for Somalia. The country remains engaged in a prolonged military campaign against Al-Shabaab while simultaneously navigating disagreements over constitutional reforms and electoral arrangements.
Opposition leaders have accused the government of pursuing unilateral political changes, while the administration insists it is completing reforms that have been pending for more than a decade.
Responding directly to criticism of the constitutional review process, Hassan Sheikh rejected claims that his government had written an entirely new constitution or sought to redesign the political system for personal political advantage.
The president argued that the constitutional review was already mandated under the provisional constitutional framework adopted in 2012 and that completing the process was a responsibility of government rather than a political choice.
“Returning to the 2012 Constitution is impossible. The 2012 Constitution is now part of Somalia’s constitutional history and remains in the archives,” he said.
According to the president, much of the current criticism surrounding constitutional reforms is politically motivated.
He maintained that every Somali president has faced accusations of attempting to manipulate the political system for personal benefit and insisted that his administration is no different.
“No president can tailor a constitution for himself. The idea that I am designing a system for my own re-election is political rhetoric that has been repeated against every Somali president,” he said.
The president also accused opposition figures of failing to present a coherent alternative vision for Somalia’s future, arguing that many political actors have focused primarily on resisting government proposals rather than offering competing solutions.
“The opposition has not presented an alternative political vision. They only oppose every reform, every constitutional review and every electoral change,” he said.
His remarks come amid continued political disagreements in Mogadishu, where tensions between the federal government and opposition leaders have intensified in recent months.
The situation reached a new level after confrontations involving armed groups linked to opposition figures, raising fears that political disputes could threaten security gains achieved in the capital over recent years.
Hassan Sheikh defended the government’s handling of the situation and warned against any return to the instability that once defined Mogadishu.
“Mogadishu’s security will not be compromised. We will not allow armed groups or political actors to return the city to the era of checkpoints, division and instability,” he said.
The president argued that political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and democratic processes rather than through armed mobilization.
His comments reflect growing concern among Somali authorities that unresolved political disputes could distract attention from the fight against Al-Shabaab and undermine broader state-building efforts.
One of the most striking moments of the interview came when Hassan Sheikh accused unnamed foreign countries and local collaborators of attempting to prevent Somalia from progressing.
While declining to identify specific actors, the president claimed that some external powers benefit from Somalia’s continued weakness and instability.
“There are individuals and external actors who want Somalia to remain weak and stagnant. Investigations are ongoing and the findings will be presented to the public,” he said.
The allegation adds a new dimension to Somalia’s political debate. For decades, Somalia has occupied a strategic position in the Horn of Africa, attracting the attention of regional and global powers.
As the country rebuilds its institutions and expands its international partnerships, concerns about foreign influence have become increasingly prominent in political discussions.
The president suggested that the government possesses evidence regarding activities designed to undermine national stability and said authorities are conducting investigations into both foreign actors and Somalis allegedly working on their behalf.
Although details remain limited, the president promised that findings would eventually be made public.The issue of security remained central throughout the interview.
Since returning to office, Hassan Sheikh has made the fight against Al-Shabaab one of the defining priorities of his administration.
Military operations involving Somali forces, local communities and international partners have succeeded in reclaiming territory in several regions, but the president acknowledged that victory remains far from complete.
“Al-Shabaab has not been defeated yet. The war is still ongoing. It continued last night and it continues this morning,” he said.His comments reflected both optimism and caution.
While recognizing recent military gains, Hassan Sheikh warned against believing that military operations alone could eliminate the threat posed by the militant group.
“The only lasting way to defeat terrorism is to strengthen the Somali state, its institutions and its governance,” he said.According to the president, terrorism thrives where government institutions are weak and public trust is limited.
For that reason, he argued that military action must be accompanied by efforts to strengthen governance, improve service delivery and expand state authority across the country.
The president also touched on the ongoing dispute involving Jubaland, reiterating the federal government’s position regarding the region’s leadership.
While maintaining that the current administration in Jubaland is not recognized by Mogadishu, Hassan Sheikh emphasized that dialogue remains the preferred path toward resolving political differences.
“Jubaland’s current leadership is not recognized by the Federal Government, and we continue to seek a political solution through dialogue,” he said.
Foreign policy occupied a significant portion of the interview, particularly Somalia’s relationship with Türkiye. Over the past decade, Türkiye has emerged as one of Somalia’s closest international partners, providing assistance in areas ranging from infrastructure and healthcare to security and education.
Hassan Sheikh praised Ankara’s role and signaled his administration’s willingness to deepen cooperation further.
“We have granted our Turkish brothers three oil and gas exploration blocks, and if they request more, we will gladly grant them as well,” he said.
The president described Türkiye as a trusted partner that stood by Somalia during difficult periods when many others were reluctant to engage.
“Türkiye is a strategic partner that stood by Somalia during its most difficult times,” he said.
The comments underscore the growing importance of Turkish investment and influence in Somalia’s development agenda, particularly as the country seeks to expand its energy sector and attract foreign investment.
Relations with the United States were another major topic. Hassan Sheikh adopted a measured tone when discussing remarks made by US President Donald Trump regarding Somalis, emphasizing that Somalia remains committed to maintaining strong ties with Washington.
“We are not in conflict with the United States, and our relationship remains good,” he said.
The president noted that American support continues to play a critical role in Somalia’s fight against terrorism and broader development efforts.
At the same time, he used recent visa restrictions affecting Somalis to highlight the importance of building stronger national institutions.
“Such restrictions would not happen if we had a strong government capable of exercising authority across the entire country,” he said.
The interview concluded with discussions about Israel, Somaliland and Somalia’s territorial integrity. Hassan Sheikh reiterated Somalia’s opposition to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and dismissed suggestions that such developments would alter Somalia’s position regarding national unity.
“Somaliland did not secure recognition and will not secure recognition; what it received was not recognition at all, but a trap laid by Israel,” he said.
The president also explained Somalia’s long-standing position on Israel and Palestine, arguing that Somalia’s views are shaped by both humanitarian and ideological considerations.
“Our opposition to Israel is rooted in several ideological considerations. Some are based on religious convictions and fundamental principles of faith, while others arise from humanitarian concerns and issues related to human rights,” he said.
Taken together, the interview offered one of the clearest insights yet into Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s vision for Somalia as he navigates a period marked by political disputes, security challenges and geopolitical competition.
Whether discussing constitutional reforms, counterterrorism operations, foreign partnerships or questions of sovereignty, the president consistently returned to one central message: that Somalia’s future depends on strong institutions, national unity and the ability of Somalis themselves to shape the direction of their country.