Saturday , May 16, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Somali opposition politician Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame has criticized Turkey following a meeting between the Turkish ambassador and President Hassan Sheikh Maxamuud at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, saying the visit sends a sensitive political message amid Somalia’s disputed electoral transition.
Somali opposition politician Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame has sharply criticized Turkey after the Turkish ambassador to Somalia met President Hassan Sheikh Maxamuud at the Presidential Palace earlier today.
According to Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur, the meeting reflects what he described as a “serious political signal” at a time when Somalia remains divided over its electoral framework and broader constitutional transition.
He argued that Turkey’s engagement with the presidency risks being interpreted as implicit political support for President Hassan Sheikh, despite ongoing disputes about the end of the current government’s mandate and the absence of a final agreement on the national electoral system.
In his statement, the opposition politician said Somalia is currently in a politically fragile and transitional phase, where key national agreements on elections and governance structures remain unresolved.
Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur stated that the timing of the ambassador’s visit carries significant political meaning.
He said, “The Turkish decision to directly extend political recognition and engagement to President Hassan Sheikh after the end of his constitutional term, while Somalia is still in an uncoordinated transition and without a finalized electoral agreement, sends a very serious and sensitive political signal.”
Neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu has issued an official response to the remarks at the time of reporting.
Turkey is one of Somalia’s most important international partners and has maintained a strong presence in the country for more than a decade.
Ankara has supported Somalia in areas including security cooperation, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance, and institutional capacity building. Turkish firms and state institutions are also involved in key projects in Mogadishu and other regions.
Political debate in Somalia has intensified in recent months over the country’s electoral process and constitutional arrangements. Opposition figures have repeatedly questioned the timeline and structure of the transition toward national elections.
Diplomatic engagements between Somalia and its partners, including high level visits to the Presidential Palace, often attract political scrutiny in Mogadishu due to the sensitivity of the ongoing transition process.
The remarks by Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur highlight rising political tensions over Somalia’s electoral roadmap and the interpretation of international diplomatic engagement.
While Turkey remains a strategic ally, opposition concerns suggest that external meetings with Somali leadership are increasingly being viewed through a domestic political lens.
The situation underscores how Somalia’s unresolved electoral framework continues to influence both internal politics and foreign relations, especially as the country moves toward future elections.