MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused the United States of spreading “fake alerts” after the US Embassy in Mogadishu warned of imminent terrorist attacks in the country.
In a fiery statement on Friday, Mohamud stopped short of naming the US directly but clearly targeted the embassy’s alert, calling it a deliberate attempt to destabilize his government. He urged Somalia to embrace self-reliance and reduce its dependence on foreign aid.
Mohamud’s criticism appears to disregard decades of US support for Somalia, including military and financial assistance to combat the Al-Shabaab insurgency. Despite ongoing American efforts to strengthen Mogadishu’s security forces, the president argued that true sovereignty can only be achieved through self-sufficiency, not foreign backing.
The US Embassy’s warning prompted several nations, including Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, to cancel flights to Mogadishu. Mohamud dismissed these actions as “fake measures,” questioning why similar steps weren’t taken during periods of greater violence, such as when Al-Shabaab assassinated high-ranking officials in the capital.
The Somali leader also claimed that “no single district liberated from Al-Shabaab has been retaken by the group.” However, just before he addressed the matter from the mosque pulpit at the presidential compound, the militant group had seized control of the towns of Al Kowther and Bos Hareri in the Middle Shabelle region.
It remains unclear how President Mohamud’s condemnation of the United States will affect Somalia’s relations with Washington. The U.S. has already cut $1.5 million in aid to the country, halting salaries for Somali special forces that it trained, equipped, and supported.
In a recent video, U.S. President Trump and Vice President Jade Vance were seen criticizing Ukraine’s President Zelensky for what they described as a lack of gratitude toward Washington. They accused him of seeking additional guarantees while considering a ceasefire deal with Russia.
Analysts are also uncertain how the U.S. will respond to Mohamud’s accusations, which include claims that Washington has spread false information, fabricated alerts, and amplified Al-Shabaab propaganda. Meanwhile, experts argue that the presence of U.S. troops in Somalia is critical to the survival of the federal government in Mogadishu, whose authority remains weak and limited.
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