By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
SOMALIA, 17 May 2026 – A meeting between Türkiye’s Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sparked political debate after opposition figures objected to the Turkish embassy referring to Hassan Sheikh as “President” amid disputes over the end of his constitutional term.
Türkiye’s embassy in Mogadishu said in a post on X that Saturday’s meeting focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Opposition figures, however, interpreted the embassy’s wording as a political signal of support for Hassan Sheikh.
The meeting came two days after political talks between the federal government and opposition groups in Mogadishu ended without agreement, with disputes continuing over constitutional reforms and electoral arrangements.
Opposition politician Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame criticized the embassy’s statement, saying it risked escalating political tensions.
“The Turkish government’s clear expression of support for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after the end of his constitutional term sends a deeply worrying political message,” Abdirahman Abdishakur said.
Lawmaker Abdullahi Farah Mire also criticized the Turkish statement, saying Ankara’s support should encourage political consensus rather than appear to back an administration whose legitimacy remains disputed.
“Türkiye’s support should encourage unity and an inclusive government, rather than appearing to back an administration accused of division and constitutional violations,” he wrote on X.
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Another lawmaker, Mursal Mohamed Khalif, accused Türkiye of supporting Hassan Sheikh’s political agenda and referred to him as the “former president.”
The criticism reflects broader opposition concerns over Türkiye’s role in Somalia’s internal politics, including earlier accusations that Ankara supported the federal government during political disputes in South West State.
In late April, opposition politicians in Mogadishu separately met Ambassador Aktaş to discuss Somalia’s political transition and the importance of Türkiye maintaining neutrality in Somali political disputes.
Abdirahman Aynte, chairman of the Xaqsoor & Haybad Qaran alliance, told Dawan Media that opposition figures had conveyed concerns about what they viewed as possible Turkish involvement in Somalia’s political competition.
“We discussed it the way friends speak to each other. When your friend overlooks something, you tell him,” Aynte said. “We shared areas where we suspected there may have been some oversight.”
The reactions underscore growing concerns among opposition groups over the role foreign powers, particularly Türkiye, could play if Somalia’s political tensions continue to deepen.