Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused unnamed foreign countries and their local allies of trying to keep Somalia trapped in insecurity and underdevelopment, warning that his government is investigating what he called a campaign to undermine the country.
Speaking in an interview, Mohamud said some outside powers had no interest in seeing Somalia rebuild after decades of conflict, weak institutions and insurgent violence.
“There are foreign countries that do not want Somalia to progress,” he said. “They want this country to remain in the difficult situation of insecurity and underdevelopment in which it has been trapped for decades.”
The president did not identify the countries he accused of interference, but said Somali authorities were closely monitoring both foreign actors and people inside the country whom he accused of serving external interests.
“No foreigner will liberate Somalia from the groups that have invaded it,” he said, referring to militant groups including Al-Shabaab.
“Somalis must understand that the future of this country cannot be handed over to others.”
Mohamud said the government was conducting “major investigations” into countries and individuals suspected of undermining Somalia’s stability, adding that it would make the findings public soon.
Political tensions
His remarks come at one of the most sensitive moments of his second presidency, as Mogadishu faces renewed political strain after clashes this month between government troops and armed groups linked to opposition figures.
The violence broke out ahead of planned protests against Mohamud’s continued stay in office after parliament backed constitutional amendments in March that could extend his term by one year and delay elections.
Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused government forces of attacking his residence and said Mohamud’s administration had “illegally altered the constitution”.
“The government forces encircled and attacked my house. I am not afraid of their aggressive attacks; I will fight back,” Sharif said in a video posted online.
Former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire also accused the government of launching “a sustained and indiscriminate military assault” against him and Sharif, allegations the authorities rejected.
The government said opposition-linked militias had endangered civilians by moving armed men into residential areas and attacking police officers.
The United Nations, African Union, IGAD and Western partners have urged Somali leaders to resolve the dispute through dialogue, warning that renewed political confrontation could weaken the fight against Al-Shabaab.
War on Al-Shabaab
Mohamud said his administration had made “tangible gains” in the war against Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked group that has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s internationally backed government for nearly two decades.
But he said the militant group still received help from both Somalis and foreigners who, he alleged, spread false information abroad to weaken national security.
“There are people serving Al-Shabaab, Somalis and foreigners alike,” he said. “They export fake news from the country to destabilise national security.”
Somali forces, regional troops and international partners have carried out repeated operations against Al-Shabaab this year, including air-backed offensives in Jubbaland.
But the militants still control rural areas and retain the ability to strike government targets, military bases and major towns.
The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, has continued supporting Somali forces since replacing the previous AU mission in 2025.
Mohamud has repeatedly argued that military pressure alone will not defeat Al-Shabaab, saying the campaign must also cut off the group’s financing, propaganda and political networks.
Foreign pressure
The president’s remarks also come as Somalia faces growing geopolitical pressure in the Horn of Africa, particularly after Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the breakaway northern region that declared independence in 1991 but remains claimed by Mogadishu.
Somalia has condemned the move as an attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mohamud previously called any plan for an Israeli military presence in Somaliland unacceptable.
“We will fight in our capacity. Of course, we will defend ourselves,” he said in an earlier interview. “We will confront any Israeli forces coming in, because we are against that and we will never allow that.”
Somaliland’s government welcomed Israel’s recognition and rejected Mogadishu’s accusations, while Israel denied Somali claims that the move had links to plans involving Palestinians from Gaza.
For Mohamud, however, the issue forms part of a wider warning that outside actors are exploiting Somalia’s internal divisions.
He said the country’s political class, federal member states and wider public must avoid becoming tools in foreign agendas at a time when Somalia is trying to rebuild its institutions and defeat Al-Shabaab.
“Somalia will not be rescued by outsiders,” he said. “The people of Somalia must defend their country, their unity and their future.”
