Mogadishu – Recent remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning Somalia have ignited widespread anger in Mogadishu. The comments, perceived as deeply offensive, centered on his assertion that the United States does not want to accept Somali immigrants.
Trump’s statements reportedly surfaced in the wake of a corruption scandal in Minnesota allegedly involving fraudulent billing activities linked to members of the Somali community. During a government meeting, Trump is quoted as saying that Somalis “have nothing in their country and are killing each other.” He further stated that “their country is in bad shape, and there’s a reason for that. Their country is a mess, we don’t want them in our country.”
Notably, the Somali government has yet to issue an official response, seemingly to avoid escalating tensions with Washington, which continues to provide crucial security and humanitarian assistance to Somalia. However, public sentiment in Somalia has been far from silent.
“Trump’s comments are unacceptably offensive this time,” stated Daoud Bari, a grocery store owner in Mogadishu. He urged the government to publicly condemn the remarks and reject the insults. Sumaya Hassan Ali, a 23-year-old university student, described Trump’s words as “rude,” pointing out that the United States itself experiences “a significant number of murders annually, sometimes more than what happens in Somalia.”
Some have criticized the perceived silence of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while others believe his options are limited. Mahdi Ibrahim, a university lecturer, suggested that the Somali government relies on U.S. support in its fight against armed groups, and any confrontation with Trump could prompt him to abruptly halt this aid, as has occurred in the past.
Nourdin Abdi, who works for a civil society organization, expressed a more nuanced view. “Trump’s style may be rude towards Somalia, but we cannot ignore the fact that much of what he says about Somalia is true,” he stated. He added that the country remains mired in conflict, corruption, and instability, noting that improving Somalia’s image globally begins with “reforming governance and reducing chaos.”DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing story.
