Somalia opposition made ‘serious mistake’ by accepting Turkey’s deputy intelligence chief as mediator, Senator Samatar says

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Prominent Somali senator and scholar Abdi Ismail Samatar on Tuesday criticized Somalia’s political opposition for allowing Turkey’s deputy intelligence chief to mediate talks with the federal government in Mogadishu, calling the decision a “serious mistake” and questioning Ankara’s ability to act as a neutral broker.

The meeting, held at the Turkish Hotel inside Aden Adde International Airport, brought together representatives of Somalia’s political opposition and the federal government. The regional administrations of Puntland and Jubaland boycotted the talks.

In a statement posted on X, Samatar said most Somalis support dialogue that leads to peace and a credible electoral process but remain deeply concerned about the country’s political direction.

“Today, representative of the Somali political opposition and the regime met at the Turkish Hotel at Aden A. Osman International Airport. Most Somalis are praying for peace and for a fair electoral process that would undo Hassan Sh.’s authoritarian and deeply corrupt roadmap,” he said.

He added that many Somalis also fear the country could slide into renewed conflict.

“In addition, the public are seriously worried about the possibility of the dictator instigating a new civil war. What he did in Baidoa, and his attempts to encircle Puntland have all the hallmarks of the dying days of a morally bankrupt regime.”

While expressing support for dialogue, Samatar argued that the opposition weakened its own position by accepting Turkish mediation.

“Despite the prayers and the well wishes of the public, the Somali political opposition made a serious mistake by allowing the Turkish Deputy Chief of Intelligence to be a mediator,” he said.

He questioned Turkey’s neutrality, arguing that Ankara’s treatment of its own political opposition undermines its credibility as a mediator.

“It is exceptionally ironic that the Somali opposition thought that the regime in Ankara, widely known for its heavy handedness against the Turkish opposition, would play a neutral role. Come on!.”

Samatar said prayers alone would not resolve Somalia’s political crisis and urged Somalis to become more actively engaged.

The senator has been one of the most outspoken critics of Turkey’s growing political role in Somalia. He has previously condemned the oil exploration and drilling agreement signed between Ankara and the current Somali administration, describing it as dubious and exploitative, and has referred to Turkey as a “resource pirate” over the deal.

He has also been sharply critical of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, recently saying he “will go down in history as Somalia’s worst president.”

In another statement criticizing the government, Samatar said:

“Astonishingly, Hassan Sh.’s tenure over the past fours mimicked the worst corrupt practice of the old regime’s last decade and is now attempting to impose a second rate violent tyranny over the country most of whose territory he does not control. The English proverb ‘Repeating history the first time is a tragedy; the second time it is a farce’ aptly captures the mindset and fate.”

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