Friday February 21, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has denied reports that the federal government blocked former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble from obtaining diplomatic passport clearance to travel to South Africa. 

In an interview with VOA Somalia, Minister Fiqi dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the government greatly respects Rooble, who oversaw Somalia’s 2022 elections under former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. 

“We have the letter we wrote to 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. There is no place where Rooble himself stated that his request was denied, and the government will respond directly to him if he raises the issue,” said Minister Fiqi. 

Reports circulated on social media alleged that the Somali Embassy in Kenya had denied Rooble passport clearance, fueling speculation about the government’s stance on his travel. 

Despite the controversy, former Prime Minister 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 entire group reportedly used European passports, underlining the Somali government’s decision to withhold diplomatic travel privileges.

Roble’s trip comes at the invitation of the Somali diaspora in South Africa, where he is expected to discuss Somalia’s ongoing political challenges. His visit coincides with heightened tensions in Mogadishu over electoral disputes and constitutional reforms, which have deepened rivalries among political factions.