Sunday February 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Former Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble has accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of blocking his diplomatic passport clearance for travel to South Africa.
Speaking with the Somali community in South Africa on Saturday, Rooble said that he and his delegation submitted an application to the Somali Embassy in Kenya that was delayed by 20 days, causing some members to miss the trip.
“I will be accountable to the head of state when I return to Somalia, and I will take action on the problem we encountered with the Ministry,” Rooble said.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has denied any government interference with Rooble’s request. “We have the letter we sent him and his delegation on February 1, and we do not know where his request was rejected. We only heard about it on social media,” Fiqi said.
Despite the controversy, Rooble arrived in South Africa on Thursday using his Swedish passport, which he holds as a naturalized citizen. He was accompanied by a delegation that included former Minister of Education Abdullahi Arab, former State Minister for Planning Gaani, and former Banadir regional secretary-general Xiireey.
The group reportedly traveled on European passports.
