Somali FM: World ‘has no desire to hurt Somalia’

By The Star Staff Writer

MOGADISHU – Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad dismissed concerns that the Somali government is facing an international isolation after the United States, the European Union and other international partners strongly denounced the ouster of Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in a no-confidence vote over the weekend.

In an exclusive interview with the Somalia Star, Awad said Somalia still maintains a “good and friendly” relationship with its international partners despite recent political developments in the country.

“The world respects Somalia’s sovereignty and indeed wants us to succeed,” he said by phone, a day after he briefed foreign diplomats about his government’s position on the removal of Prime Minister Khaire.

The United States and the European Union have vehemently condemned Somali parliament’s decision to vote overwhelmingly to unseat Khaire for failing, among other issues, to timely and properly prepare the nation for popular elections.

Washington threatened to “take measures against spoilers who seek to undermine Somalia’s progress towards stability, peace, inclusive governance, and prosperity.”  The European Union also said it would “review carefully” the events that led to Khaire’s ouster and “who bears responsibility” and to what extent that can “deviate Somalia from the progress it was making and to which it had committed itself to its international partners.”

In its first official response to the chorus of international criticism, the Council of Ministers counseled the world to “respect the sovereignty of our nation and our constitution as well as the UN Diplomatic Convention.”

Many Somalis, however, would have liked more vigorous reaction from their government to what they see as an interference in their internal affairs by foreign nations.

“We’re not interested in arguing with anyone,” Awad said. “We don’t always need to publicly respond to other countries’ statements and their pronouncements. We don’t want to create enemies for Somalia. We’ve many channels through which we can address our concerns with other nations without resorting to the media.”

Awad said foreign diplomats who participated in his briefing on Tuesday were pleased to hear that the Somali government is committed to the recent Dhusamareeb agreement between President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo and the leaders of the Federal Member States.

“We need to move on,” Awad said. “After all, Prime Minister Khaire himself has accepted the decision by lawmakers.”

The international community’s harsh condemnations have raised concerns in Somalia that the national government could face isolation at a time when it and opposition groups don’t see eye-to-eye on whether to hold 2020-2021 elections on time or delay them or what model to use to avoid repeating the fiasco that rocked the last exercise that was married by corruption and bribery.

“We welcome advice from our international friends, but we tend, like any other sovereign nation, not to accept others to impose dictates or prescriptions on us or to threaten us,” Awad said. “But I believe that the world wants to help Somalia and has no desire to hurt it.”

The top diplomat said the Somali government regularly engages with its international partners to exchange views and address concerns.

“We don’t have to shout from the rooftops to make our viewpoints heard,” Awad said.

About the status of the upcoming elections, he said the Somali government is committed to holding free and fair elections.

“Somalis are capable of ironing out their differences in an amicable manner,” Awad said, adding that a technical committee comprising members drawn from the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States would soon meet to hammer out the best election model for the country at this juncture.