MOGADISHU — Somali opposition presidential candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has sharply criticized a meeting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Turkish ambassador at Villa Somalia, following the collapse of talks between the Federal Government and opposition groups.
Mr. Warsame accused the government of seeking foreign backing instead of pursuing an inclusive political dialogue with opposition leaders. He suggested that the meeting reflected growing external influence in Somalia’s internal political affairs at a time of heightened tensions over governance and the country’s electoral process.
Turkey is one of Somalia’s closest international allies, maintaining strong military, economic and diplomatic ties with Mogadishu. Ankara has trained Somali security forces, invested in infrastructure projects and provided significant support to the Somali government over the past decade.
The opposition figure’s remarks came amid mounting political disagreements between the government and opposition leaders over constitutional reforms, elections and power-sharing arrangements.
However, Warsame did not publicly comment after European Union ambassadors separately met Hassan Sheikh at Villa Somalia on Saturday, raising questions among political observers about the differing reactions.
Analysts say the silence may reflect how Somali opposition groups perceive the roles of various international actors. While Turkey is often viewed as closely aligned with the federal government, the European Union is generally seen as a broader diplomatic partner supporting dialogue, democratic governance and institutional development.
“The opposition appears to view Turkey as having a more direct political and security influence inside Somalia, whereas EU engagement is often framed as diplomatic and development-oriented,” a Mogadishu-based political analyst said.
The European Union has long been a major donor to Somalia, supporting humanitarian assistance, state-building programs and electoral processes, while also backing efforts aimed at political reconciliation.
The developments come as Somalia faces renewed political uncertainty, with international partners urging Somali leaders to resolve disputes through dialogue and consensus.
