Sunday April 20, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon at Villa Somalia on Sunday to discuss national security and efforts to strengthen state institutions, according to a statement from the presidency.
The two leaders emphasized the need to enhance the Somali National Army and intensify the fight against terrorism. They agreed on the importance of uniting political stakeholders to support the military campaign against Al-Shabaab and improve the delivery of government services.
“The President and the former Prime Minister agreed on the urgency of enhancing the effectiveness of the Armed Forces, who continue to make sacrifices in defending the Somali people,” Villa Somalia said in its statement.The meeting comes days after Abdi Farah Shirdoon publicly criticized the federal government for what he described as its failure to provide essential services such as healthcare and education. Speaking at an event in Mogadishu where he declared his intention to run in the 2026 presidential election, Shirdoon warned that Al-Shabaab militants are regaining ground in parts of Middle and Lower Shabelle.
President Mohamud has repeatedly defended his administration’s counterterrorism strategy, citing joint operations with international partners and increased support for the military. However, recent setbacks, including Al-Shabaab’s temporary seizure of key towns, have raised concerns among critics.
Shirdoon served as Somalia’s prime minister from 2012 to 2013 and is expected to be one of several prominent candidates in the upcoming election, which will be conducted through a one-person, one-vote system for the first time in over five decades.