WASHINGTON, April 20 (SMN) – A former top U.S. diplomat has launched a scathing attack on Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, accusing him of undermining the country’s international security partners.
Tibor Nagy, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, took to social media to denounce what he described as “baseless accusations” made by Minister Fiqi against the acting head of the African Union forces safeguarding security in Mogadishu.
“Somali ForMin Fiqi can’t help but bite the hand of those saving his country-this time accusing head of AUSSOM, the force protecting Mogadishu, of sympathizing with al-Shabaab!! So who is actually serving Shabaab’s interests with ridiculous accusations?,” he added.
His comments come as AU peacekeepers under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) – soon transitioning to AUSSOM – continue intense operations in support of Somali government forces fighting Al-Shabaab militants.
In a recent interview with the state TV, Fiqi blamed Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam for the Acting Head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia [AUSSOM], for jeopardizing the country’s development and showing favoritism toward Al-Shabaab.
The Somali government has not officially responded to Nagy’s remarks, and Minister Fiqi has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
The exchange raises concerns about the impact such accusations could have on the fragile relationship between Somalia and its international security partners.
