MOGADISHU — Former senior journalist Hassan Bariise and former Qaran editor Abdullahi Faat have criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s leadership style, arguing that leaders who surround themselves with loyal supporters risk becoming disconnected from the concerns and suffering of the wider public.
Speaking on the Kalsan platform, the commentators used strong language to describe what they characterized as the president’s limited awareness of public dissatisfaction and the difficulties faced by people affected by government policies.
“The president has only one eye; he sees those who applaud him, but he does not see those who curse and condemn him, or those whose lives he has disrupted and the hardships he has caused,” the commentators said.
They argued that a leader who listens only to people within his immediate circle may fail to recognize growing public criticism and the consequences of government decisions for ordinary citizens.
Warning Against Authoritarian Leadership
The commentators compared what they described as the president’s approach to authoritarian leadership, arguing that focusing exclusively on loyal supporters while disregarding critics can weaken accountability and widen the gap between political leaders and the public.
They also drew a comparison with Al-Shabaab’s reported ideological outlook, suggesting that extremist groups and authoritarian leaders may share a tendency to recognize or value primarily those who belong to their own circle.
Their remarks emphasized the importance of political accountability, openness to criticism and the responsibility of national leaders to consider the experiences and concerns of citizens beyond their immediate supporters.
Debate Over Governance and Public Trust
The comments add to public debate in Somalia about political leadership, government accountability and the relationship between elected officials and the communities they serve.
The speakers’ remarks represent their political assessment of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s leadership. Their central argument is that leaders risk losing touch with public concerns when they rely too heavily on praise from close allies and fail to engage meaningfully with criticism.
The presidency’s response to the commentators’ remarks was not included in the material provided.
