By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 3 July 2026 – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday criticised opposition figures, accusing them of fear-driven rhetoric rather than presenting a clear vision for the country’s future.
Speaking at an event in Mogadishu, Mohamud questioned whether opposition politicians had offered Somalis a concrete plan for the kind of country they want to build.
He said much of the opposition’s rhetoric centred on warnings of collapse, division and worsening instability, without offering practical solutions to the country’s political challenges.
The president said Somalia continues to face major challenges but argued that the country is making gradual progress.
He said Somali citizens deserve the same rights and opportunities enjoyed by people in other countries.
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“Do we have everything we wanted? No. Are we where we ideally want to be? No,” Hassan Sheikh said. “But we are in a better place than where we were yesterday.”
He described Somalia’s progress as gradual but meaningful, saying nation-building requires patience and sustained effort.
“It is built brick by brick,” he said, urging citizens to remain focused on long-term progress rather than daily political disputes.
The remarks come at a time of heightened political tensions in Somalia over elections, constitutional issues and relations between the federal government and regional states.
The government and opposition remain divided on key political issues, while international partners have repeatedly called for dialogue and compromise to preserve stability.