MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Alper Aktas met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on the presidential palace on Saturday, in a transfer opposition figures described as a public present of assist for a frontrunner whose mandate they are saying has expired, as Somalia faces a deepening political dispute and no agreed electoral framework.
“We have been honored to be obtained by the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,” Ambassador Alper Aktas mentioned in an announcement posted on X.
“In the course of the assembly, we reaffirmed our steadfast assist for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, sovereignty, safety, and prosperity. We prolong our honest appreciation to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for his type reception and heat hospitality,” he added.
The go to drew swift criticism from Somali opposition politician Abdirahman Abdishakur, who mentioned Ankara’s public backing of Mohamud risked undermining confidence in Somalia’s fragile political transition.
“The Turkish authorities’s choice to publicly reaffirm assist for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud instantly after the expiration of his constitutional mandate, at a second when Somalia faces a contested political transition and no agreed electoral framework, sends a deeply troubling political sign,” Abdishakur mentioned.
“Somalis have lengthy valued the historic relationship with Türkiye, constructed on solidarity and mutual respect. That relationship should stay anchored in assist for the Somali individuals, constitutional governance, and inclusive political consensus, not customized alignment with a single political determine throughout a fragile and contested transition,” he added.
Abdishakur mentioned Somalia’s stability couldn’t be sustained “by way of exterior endorsement of expired mandates or focus of energy,” arguing that sturdy peace required legitimacy, political consensus and public belief.
Analysts mentioned Turkey’s public positioning in the course of the escalating dispute may expose Ankara to rising political threat in Somalia.
“Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Alper Aktas meets Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia at this time in what seems to be a transparent sign of the place Ankara stands within the ongoing dispute over HSM’s controversial one-year time period extension,” mentioned Rashid Abdi, a Nairobi-based analyst.
“By aligning itself so carefully with a tarnished chief Turkey is taking an enormous threat, however hey, perhaps there’s something we don’t know,” he added.
Turkey has in current months confronted accusations from Somali opposition figures and critics of more and more aligning itself with Mohamud throughout disputes amongst Somalia’s political management, a notion analysts say may have an effect on Ankara’s long-term strategic pursuits within the Horn of Africa nation.
Turkey has expanded its affect in Somalia over the previous decade by way of safety cooperation, infrastructure tasks and financial funding. Ankara can also be pursuing plans for a spaceport and missile-testing facility in Somalia and is concerned in offshore oil exploration agreements that critics have described as controversial.
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