Abdulrahman Al Saadi⚖️

On Somalia–Türkiye Relations Türkiye and Somalia have a good relationship, and most Somalis appreciate Türkiye’s role and the gurmad, or rescue mission, President @RTErdogan mounted to help avert famine in Somalia in 2011. Somalis also immensely appreciate Türkiye helping Somalia protect its territorial waters after Ethiopia attempted to swindle some of them, as well as Türkiye’s support in helping the Somali government fight Al-Shabaab and rebuild the national army. Somalis also appreciate other economic arrangements, such as oil exploration and similar cooperation, even if some believe the negotiations and/or arrangements were not always optimal for Somalia. Somalis would also appreciate it if Türkiye chose to mediate and help Somali politicians sort out their differences — just as diplomats from 🇺🇸 and 🇬🇧 recently mediated among Somali leaders on election- and transition-related issues. Somalis, however, would not appreciate direct or indirect involvement by Turkish citizens, academics, commentators, or diplomats siding with politicking Somali politicians, and it is also not in Türkiye’s interest. The Turkish ambassador rushing to meet with @HassanSMohamud after his mandate ended, and writing in three languages to emphasize that they recognize him as the legitimate president, was not in the interest of the Turkish state or the long-term relationship between the two countries. In politics and diplomacy, moves and signals are visible, and they are often read or perceived exactly as intended. Somalis have indeed noticed the visit and the amplification by some Turkish commentators on Somalia. Previous Turkish ambassadors used to take vacations during election seasons because they understood that whoever Somalis elected would remain a friend of Türkiye. The partnership and the reservoir of goodwill built over the years were simply too deep and valuable to warrant even the perception of meddling. It is for Somalis, and only Somalis, to decide whether Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is our president. His four-year legal mandate ended under the constitution pursuant to which he was sworn in. If Somalis decide that he should remain temporarily because the alternative is collapse, that too is for Somalis alone to determine. Turkish media outlets like TRT Africa and TRT Somali acting like Somali government media are also not in Türkiye’s interest. I am told that analysis of comments on TRT platforms has shown unprecedented negative feedback — hence the misinformation conference reportedly held in Türkiye not long ago. Some Turkish social media commentators who think they understand Somalia or Somalis are insulting former Somali presidents like @M_Farmaajo and @HESharifShAhmed, arguing with Somalis online, and on an almost hourly basis inserting themselves into Somalia’s internal affairs. They are also doing huge damage to the relationship between the two countries, because Somalis are deeply allergic to noisy foreigners. These individuals will not help the side they think they are helping, nor are they harming the opposition — if anything, they are only increasing the opposition’s determination. The Turkish academics trying to spin these issues are merely exposing how weak their arguments are and how limited their understanding of Somali society is. At any rate, just as Somalis do not involve themselves in the internal politics of Türkiye, the Turkish state would benefit from either mediating honorably or asking its supporters, spin doctors, and diplomats to stay away from Somalia’s election-related competition. @RTErdoga @HakanFidan