MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has received Steen Sonne Andersen, Danish Ambassador to Somalia, following comments he made about Somaliland’s presidential election last week in Hargeisa, which sparked public outcry and calls for the ambassador to be declared persona non grata.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, days after Minister Fiqi summoned Ambassador Andersen to meet with him on November 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM, to discuss remarks he made about Somalia’s sovereignty during his visit to Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway region.
Fiqi said during their discussion, Ambassador Andersen apologized over his recent remarks and reaffirmed Denmark’s steadfast respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity and unity and underscored that Somaliland is an integral and indivisible part of Somalia.
Denmark and Somalia, he stated, remain committed partners, working closely together on shared priorities, including state-building, addressing climate change, and promoting peace and security.
Despite his comments going viral, hundreds of Somalis took to social media to condemn what they saw as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Some even suggested that foreign diplomats in Mogadishu should be banned from traveling anywhere near Somaliland.
Many others have called for the Danish ambassador’s expulsion, saying it would send a strong message to any diplomat who steps out of line in Somalia.
This comes just a month after Somalia expelled Ethiopian diplomat Ali Mohamed Aden, accusing him of acting outside his role. Aden, a colonel in Ethiopia’s military intelligence, was given 72 hours to leave the country. Ethiopia has yet to respond.
