The Opposition Strongly Condemns Hassan Sheikh's Visits to Two Warring Countries

Mogadishu (Caasimada Online) – The Future Council of Somalia has strongly criticized the recent trips made by the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Ethiopia and Egypt, condemning the meetings he held with the leaders of those countries.

The former President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, stated that it is inappropriate for the President of Somalia to visit two countries that are currently facing serious political tensions at the same time.

“It is a disgrace for Somalia and diplomacy for the president to visit two opposing groups simultaneously,” said Sheikh Sharif.

Sheikh Sharif expressed that the Future Council opposes this approach, stating that the foreign policy of the coalition should be based on not mixing internal problems of Somalia with the conflicts and struggles occurring in the region.

“The country has been confined to one hand, and if anything happens in the country or a war breaks out, it affects the leadership of the government and the administration that is spending the national resources to shed blood,” Sheikh Sharif added.

This statement comes after President Hassan Sheikh made consecutive trips to Ethiopia and Egypt, where he held meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

Hassan Sheikh also met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, with these meetings taking place at a time when there are several tensions in the Horn of Africa and issues related to the Red Sea and the Nile River.

Similarly, the leaders of Somalia, Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan held a joint meeting in the city of Alamein in Egypt, where they reached an agreement on cooperation among those countries.

The Ethiopian government reacted negatively to that meeting, describing the matter as contrary to the position it expected Somalia to take regarding the relations between the two countries.

Nonetheless, the Future Council insists that Somalia should have its own foreign policy and should not be part of the political competition between regional powers and governments.