MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has strongly condemned remarks attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump in which Somalis were described using derogatory language, warning that such comments are unacceptable and risk damaging long-standing relations between Somalia and the United States.
In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English, President Mohamud said the remarks were offensive and amounted to an insult to the dignity of an entire nation. He rejected the characterization outright, stressing that Somalis are “intelligent and capable people” who contribute positively to societies around the world.
The president cautioned that such language could reinforce harmful stereotypes, particularly affecting Somali communities living abroad, and undermine decades of cooperation between Mogadishu and Washington. Somalia, he said, values its partnership with the United States, especially in areas of security cooperation and counterterrorism, but emphasized that mutual respect must remain the foundation of any bilateral relationship.
Mohamud highlighted the role of the Somali diaspora, noting that millions of Somalis live and work outside the Horn of Africa and make meaningful contributions in their host countries, including in the United States. He pointed to sizable Somali communities in states such as Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington.
Addressing immigration, the president said Somalis who are legally resident in the United States have the right to remain there. Matters related to undocumented migrants, he added, fall under the jurisdiction of U.S. institutions and domestic law. Somalia, he said, respects the sovereignty of other countries in enforcing their immigration policies.
The comments come amid heightened political debate in the United States over immigration, national security, and foreign policy rhetoric, as discussions surrounding migrants and international relations continue to intensify.
