Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia’s Defense Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, has ignited a political firestorm after controversially linking the death of Mohamed Sheikh Osman “Jawari”, the former Speaker of Parliament, to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre.
Speaking during a highly charged address, Fiqi accused Khayre of orchestrating political pressure and military actions that allegedly led to Jawari’s downfall from the speakership years ago — a chain of events which, he suggested, ultimately caused the veteran politician’s death from grief.
“The late Speaker Jawari, may Allah have mercy on him, died of heartbreak. His blood should be traced to Khayre, who sent troops into Parliament and forced him from his position,” Fiqi declared, adding that Khayre had a record of ordering violent crackdowns on opponents.
The minister went further, recalling Khayre’s past clashes with opposition figures, including Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, whom he accused Khayre of attempting to assassinate during a night raid. “This is the same man who lectures about the constitution and human rights,” Fiqi said with scorn.
The remarks immediately drew widespread condemnation from members of Parliament, particularly those hailing from South West State, the late Jawari’s home region.
MP Abdirashid Jilley issued a strongly worded statement rebuking the Defense Minister.
“I am deeply disappointed in the Defense Minister’s disgraceful and mocking comments regarding the late Prof. Jawari, a man of knowledge, dignity, and statesmanship. To claim he died of sorrow is an insult that cannot be accepted,” Jilley said, calling the minister “an undisciplined street hustler” devoid of Somali cultural values or Islamic ethics.
Another lawmaker, MP Mukhtar Mohamed Guled, also condemned the statement, accusing Fiqi of exploiting Jawari’s death for political point-scoring.
“It is unacceptable for the so-called Defense Minister to politicize the natural death of a respected elder statesman whose role in shaping Somalia’s parliament and governance is well-documented. These remarks amount to a dishonor of his legacy,” Guled declared.
Prof. Mohamed Sheikh Osman “Jawari” served multiple terms as Speaker of the Somali Parliament, widely respected for his legal expertise, calm demeanor, and role in mediating Somalia’s turbulent political disputes.
His dramatic resignation in 2018, under pressure from then-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre, marked one of the most contentious power struggles in recent Somali political history. Khayre’s critics accused him of using state security forces to intimidate lawmakers, while his allies argued that Jawari had lost parliamentary confidence.
Jawari passed away in August 2025, remembered as a statesman who championed constitutionalism and parliamentary independence. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes — but Fiqi’s remarks have now reopened old political wounds.
The controversy underscores the deep divisions within Somalia’s political class, where personal rivalries often intertwine with institutional struggles. By linking Jawari’s death to Khayre, Defense Minister Fiqi has not only revived past accusations of abuse of power but also sparked fresh animosity between ruling elites and opposition figures at a time when Somalia is already grappling with fragile state-building, insecurity, and regional tensions.
The clash raises critical questions about Somalia’s political discourse: Can leaders maintain respect for the legacies of statesmen while debating their differences? Or will Somalia’s politics continue to be overshadowed by personal grievances and inflammatory rhetoric?
For now, Fiqi’s remarks have united many lawmakers against him, turning a eulogy into a new political crisis. As the backlash grows, the episode highlights the fragility of Somali political civility — and the risks of history being weaponized in present-day rivalries.
