MOGADISHU — Somali scholar and senator Prof. Abdi Ismail Samatar has sharply criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying he does not have confidence in the president and accusing his administration of using security forces against civilians.
Samatar alleged that government forces have been involved in beating people and demolishing homes, describing the actions as a serious abuse of state power and a threat to civilians.
He also accused Turkey of playing a significant role in Somalia’s security operations, claiming that Turkish authorities provide weapons, military equipment and training to Somali forces used by the federal government.
“I would not entrust my pen to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The forces beating people and demolishing their homes are receiving weapons and training from Turkey, and Turkey is involved in supporting them,” Samatar said, according to the statement attributed to him.
Samatar has previously criticized Ankara’s expanding military and political role in Somalia. In earlier commentary, he argued that Turkish-trained Somali forces should not be used as instruments of political repression and warned that foreign military assistance could become dangerous if it is used in Somalia’s internal political disputes.
Turkey has maintained a major military partnership with Somalia, including training Somali security forces and providing military support. Recent reporting has also highlighted growing controversy over the use of Turkish-trained and Turkish-equipped Somali forces amid political tensions between the federal government and opposition figures.
Samatar’s latest remarks therefore reflect a broader political debate in Somalia over the role of foreign military partners, the conduct of federal security forces and the use of state institutions during the country’s ongoing political disputes.
Note: The specific quotation above is presented as an allegation attributed to Samatar; I found reporting supporting his broader criticism of Turkey’s military role in Somalia, but not an authoritative primary source independently confirming every detail of the quoted statement.
