Saturday , May 16, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Somali opposition politician Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur Warsame has strongly criticized Turkey following a visit by the Turkish Ambassador to the Presidential Palace, where he met with President Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud earlier today.
Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur argued that the visit reflects a “serious political message” from Turkey at a time when Somalia is undergoing a sensitive political transition and has not yet reached consensus on its electoral framework.
Political concerns raised
In a statement, the opposition figure claimed that Turkey’s engagement signals implicit political support for President Hassan Sheikh, despite what he described as the expiration of the government’s constitutional mandate and the ongoing lack of agreement on the country’s electoral system.
He emphasized that Somalia is currently in a transitional and politically fragile phase, where key national agreements on elections and governance structures remain unresolved.
“A serious political signal”
Cabdiraxmaan Cabdishakuur stated:
“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.”
Diplomatic implications
Turkey remains one of Somalia’s key strategic partners, providing support in security cooperation, infrastructure development, and institutional capacity building.
However, the remarks highlight growing political tensions within Somalia over the ongoing transition process and the legitimacy of political arrangements ahead of future elections.
The statement is expected to further intensify political debate in Mogadishu, although neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor the Turkish Embassy has issued an official response regarding the remarks.