The Somali Federal Government is reportedly preparing to expel the acting head of the African Union’s mission in Somalia, citing serious allegations of bias in favor of the militant group Al-Shabaab.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Moallim Fiqi revealed that Somalia will be taking a firm stance against Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam, a South African diplomat who currently serves as Deputy and Acting Special Representative of the African Union in Somalia, heading the newly restructured AU mission known as AUSSOM (African Union Support Mission in Somalia).
According to Minister Fiqi, the AU diplomat has submitted reports to international bodies—including the United Nations Security Council—that portray Al-Shabaab in a positive light. In one such report, he allegedly claimed that the group was seeking to establish governance and had ceased targeting civilians, among other claims the Somali government strongly disputes.
“For a long time, there have been quiet concerns about this man, but now he can no longer hide it. We’ve stayed silent long enough. He has shown himself to be both a supporter of Al-Shabaab and an enemy of Somalia’s progress,” Minister Fiqi stated.
He went on to say that recent developments have confirmed longstanding suspicions that the diplomat has little interest in Somalia’s development and stability.
Sources close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm that Somalia is finalizing plans to officially expel Sivuyile Thandikhaya Bam from the country, citing his alleged sympathies for extremist groups and actions deemed contrary to Somalia’s national interests.
The government’s stance highlights growing tensions between Somalia and international partners over narratives surrounding the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the Somali government, the African Union, and the broader international community.
