By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
MOGADISHU (Dawan) — European Union Ambassador to Somalia Francesca Di Mauro referred to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as ‘President’ in a post on X, hours after an earlier message without the title sparked debate over the EU’s stance on Somalia’s political dispute.
The ambassador’s earlier statement had attracted attention among Somali politicians and political observers after she referred to Hassan Sheikh directly by name while discussing recent political talks between the federal government and opposition groups.
The wording became a subject of discussion because opposition groups argue that Hassan Sheikh’s constitutional mandate expired on May 15, while the federal government insists that constitutional amendments extended the government’s term until May 2027.
In her earlier post, Di Mauro had written that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud briefed her on his perspective regarding the recent talks, while also noting that she had spoken with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and understood that both sides remained open to dialogue.
Unlike some previous diplomatic statements issued by other foreign representatives, Di Mauro’s initial wording avoided referring to Hassan Sheikh either as ‘President’ or ‘former President’, a choice that many observers viewed as politically cautious amid the ongoing dispute over the government’s mandate.
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However, in a new post published hours later, the EU ambassador used the title ‘President’ while discussing European Union support for Somalia.
“During my meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, I also informed him of the EU’s €75 million allocation for AUSSOM and the need for burden-sharing going forward,” she wrote on X.
Di Mauro also said she discussed the implementation of €63 million in humanitarian assistance provided through the EU’s humanitarian aid operations, particularly for communities affected by severe drought conditions.
The European Union remains one of Somalia’s most important international partners, providing support in the areas of security, state-building, humanitarian assistance and institutional development.