Somali Minister Launches Scathing Attack on Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed: “Leadership Is Not About Empty Oaths”

Mogadishu, – Somali Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhan, has launched a sharp public attack on former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, accusing him of relying on symbolic pledges rather than genuine leadership. The remarks came during the official opening of voter registration for Somalia’s long-awaited one-person-one-vote elections in the city of Las Anod, Sool region.

In his speech, Minister Bidhan dismissed Sharif as a politician whose style of governance is based on repetitive oaths and promises that lack substance. “Leadership is not about swearing ‘Thuma Wallaahi’ (I swear to God) every time a government is formed,” Bidhan declared. “Leadership is about fulfilling the constitutional obligations you swore to uphold – liberating and defending the country, completing federalization, finalizing the constitution, and restoring citizens’ voting rights.”

The criticism targeted Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Somalia’s president from 2009 to 2012 and a key opposition figure who has remained influential in national politics. Minister Bidhan, a sitting MP and member of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, has increasingly emerged as a vocal defender of the government against opposition leaders.

The minister made the comments on Wednesday, September 3, during the voter registration exercise in Las Anod. He appeared alongside North-East State President Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, Deputy Senate Speaker Abdullahi Ali Hirsi “Timacade,” and several Members of Parliament representing the region.

The remarks underscore growing political tensions between the Somali government and opposition leaders ahead of the upcoming nationwide local council elections. Sharif, along with other opposition figures, has been a vocal critic of President Hassan Sheikh’s administration, accusing it of mishandling governance and security. By contrast, ministers such as Bidhan have doubled down in defense of the current leadership, framing opposition voices as obstacles to progress.

Bidhan contrasted Sharif’s record with what he described as the government’s achievements under President Hassan Sheikh and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, including efforts to strengthen federalism, deliver long-delayed local elections, and support the aspirations of regions such as North-East State. He praised local communities in Las Anod for their loyalty and resilience, suggesting that their participation in the voter registration drive was proof of genuine leadership being exercised today.

Somalia’s politics has long been shaped by the rivalry between current and former leaders. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who now heads the Forum for National Parties (FNP), has repeatedly clashed with the government over electoral timelines, constitutional reform, and federalism. His critics accuse him of obstructionism, while his supporters insist he is a voice of accountability against what they see as overreach by the federal executive.

Minister Bidhan’s pointed attack reflects the escalating war of words between the government and its opposition as Somalia navigates a sensitive electoral transition. While his remarks may galvanize pro-government supporters, they also risk deepening divisions at a time when national unity is critical to advancing security, federalism, and governance reforms. Whether such rhetoric strengthens the government’s legitimacy or fuels political polarization will become clearer as the election process unfolds in the coming months.