A politically motivated and foreign-funded smear campaign has been exposed after a series of coordinated online attacks attempted to discredit Somalia’s Federal Government by targeting the country’s’ delegation to the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
What began as baseless criticism by three individuals from Sweden and Canada, who had unsuccessfully lobbied to be included in the delegation, was quickly taken over by foreign-backed actors and anti-government elements. Their goal was clear: to damage the image of a government that, in just three years, has restored Somalia’s standing on the international stage and made significant progress in governance, economic reform, labour rights and diplomacy.
According to credible sources, a well-known Somali politician with close ties to officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been identified as the key financier behind the operation. Reports indicate that this individual paid social media influencers between 1,500 and 2,000 US dollars each to spread false and malicious content targeting the Somali government and its delegation. Some of those approached have now come forward, exposing the network after refusing to participate in further deception.
The campaign also made use of international media platforms to amplify its message. Al Arabiya Television Network, which aired misleading segments that portrayed Somalia in a negative light, has been strongly criticised by Somali officials. The Somali officials in the talks termed this media manipulation a deliberate effort to harm Somalia’s reputation during a crucial period of diplomatic engagement and cooperation.
Upon the delegation’s return to Mogadishu, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Yusuf Mohamed Adan, condemned the campaign in strong terms. Speaking at Mogadishu International Airport, he described it as “a desperate and dangerous attempt to derail the progress made by our country.” He stressed that the attacks had nothing to do with the delegation or the ILC, but were part of a broader foreign-funded political campaign aimed at undermining Somalia’s achievements and misleading the public.
The Minister reminded citizens that Somalia has made significant strides in the past three years. Improvements in governance, economic management, international partnerships and labour standards are all part of the country’s renewed path toward development. Participation in the ILC reflects Somalia’s re-engagement with the international community and its commitment to decent work and social justice.
“Somalia is no longer what it was a decade ago,” he said. “We are rebuilding a nation rooted in dignity, justice and sovereignty. These attacks are not just aimed at a delegation. They are aimed at our recovery, our hope and the unity we have worked so hard to restore.”
The Federal Government of Somalia is calling on all citizens and its friends globally to remain vigilant against politically motivated misinformation. Officials have made it clear that such campaigns only serve the narrow interests of individual political actors and their foreign backers, undermining Somalia’s hard-won progress and international credibility.
Further investigations are ongoing to identify everyone involved in spreading these falsehoods. The government has pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable for attempting to destabilise the country at a time of national progress.
