Somalia continues to grapple with an al-Shabaab insurgency and internal political tensions, prompting senior officials to call for sustained international backing.
Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, says the country has traveled a remarkable distance since its government collapsed three decades ago and the nation descended into civil war.
Omar stresses that Somalia could not have rebuilt itself without the support of the international community.
The United Nations set up a political mission to help reconstruct state institutions and mediate political disputes. More than thirty years after its founding, that mission concluded in October at the government’s own request, as Mogadishu seeks to take full ownership of its affairs.
The road ahead remains difficult. African Union peacekeepers are still deployed, backing Mogadishu in its struggle against al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group that holds swathes of central and southern Somalia. Proposed cuts to United States funding now jeopardize the African Union’s mission.
At the same time, Somalia’s opposition has challenged the president’s legitimacy, while the government insists the new constitution permits him to remain in office until next year.
Omar argues that, despite these hurdles, Somalia is more stable today than it was a few years ago. He hopes the international community will keep providing financial assistance as the country works toward becoming a stronger, more resilient state.
Published On 15 Nov 2026
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