Ahmed Moalim Fiqi Denies Blocking Mohamed Hussein Roble’s Diplomatic Passport Clearance
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s Foreign Minister, has denied reports that the federal government obstructed Mohamed Hussein Roble, the former Prime Minister, from obtaining diplomatic passport clearance for his trip to South Africa.
In an interview with VOA Somalia, Minister Fiqi clarified that the government holds Roble in high regard, acknowledging his role in overseeing Somalia’s 2022 elections under former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
“We officially communicated with him and his delegation on February 1, and there is no record of his request being denied. The first we heard of this claim was on social media. Furthermore, Roble himself has not publicly stated that his request was rejected. Should he raise the issue, the government will address it directly,” said Minister Fiqi.
The controversy emerged after reports circulated online alleging that the Somali Embassy in Kenya had denied Roble’s passport clearance. However, despite these claims, the former prime minister successfully traveled to South Africa on Thursday, using his Swedish passport—a privilege granted through his naturalized citizenship.
Roble’s visit comes at the invitation of the Somali diaspora in South Africa, where he is expected to address key political challenges facing Somalia. His trip coincides with rising tensions in Mogadishu over electoral disputes and constitutional reforms, which have intensified political rivalries.
This development highlights the ongoing power dynamics within Somalia’s leadership and underscores the broader implications of diplomatic travel access in the country’s evolving political landscape.
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