Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) — The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has strongly denied reports circulating on social media that some members of the Somali delegation attending the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva had absconded. The Ministry issued a statement on June 18, 2025, confirming that all members of the Somali delegation had fully returned to Somalia after successfully completing their duties and representing the country with honor.
The 113th International Labour Conference was held from June 2 to June 13, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Palais des Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO) headquarters. Delegates from 187 ILO member states participated in discussions to set international labor standards and address workers' rights issues.
Somalia was represented at the conference by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, led by the Minister. The Ministry's statement clarified that the rumors of absconding delegates were completely unfounded and damaging to the significant efforts of the Somali delegation, especially in advancing discussions on workers' rights and Somalia's role in global political dialogues.
“It is unfortunate and unacceptable for unprofessional individuals and media outlets to spread unverified rumors on social media, which harm the reputation of the government and undermine public trust,” the statement read.
The Ministry also called on all media, analysts, and social media users to exercise responsibility and ethical standards when discussing government affairs, urging them to verify information before spreading it.
These clarifications come in response to reports circulated on social media alleging that some members of the Somali delegation had abandoned the conference and sought asylum in other countries. However, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which oversees the delegation, had already dismissed these claims as baseless and without merit.
