UK Ambassador to Mogadishu accused of interfering in Somalia's internal politics
Elders from Puntland and Jubaland have filed a complaint against the UK Ambassador to Somalia, Michael Nethavrianakis, whom they accuse of interfering in Somalia’s internal politics. The elders wrote an open letter to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressing their concern about what they described as the UK government’s bias in Somalia’s political affairs.The letter accused Ambassador Michael Nethavrianakis of allowing Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to make political statements during a celebration of King Charles III’s birthday held at the UK embassy in Halane Camp, Mogadishu.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is said to have urged the UK government to take action against what he called “spoilers” in Somali politics, a term interpreted by elders as referring to leaders or states that oppose the president’s electoral system.
The elders said that while the hope for one-person, one-vote elections was commendable, failure to reach consensus would undermine Somalia’s progress. They warned against labeling critics of the government’s electoral system as “spoilers,” saying this would damage Somalia’s state-building efforts, which require accountability, equality and unity.
The elders called on the UK to maintain neutrality in its diplomatic role, stressing that favouring any leader or party is a violation of the country’s independence. They urged the UK government to refrain from diplomatic actions that could damage its reputation in Somalia or hinder the country’s long journey towards stability and democracy.
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