In a world rife with complex geopolitical issues and conflicts, one thing remains crystal clear: the sacred duty of any nation to defend its people from terrorists. Just as Israel and Somaliland understand this sacred obligation, it seems that Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has finally, albeit inadvertently, explained to the world why his country has been unable or, more precisely, has been unwilling to defeat the Al-Shabaab terror organization.
In a truly ironic twist of fate, the Somali Prime Minister has thrust his terror-stricken nation into the spotlight by openly supporting Hamas as a legitimate Islamic resistance group. This endorsement inadvertently exposes a deeper problem plaguing Somalia, where Al-Shabaab continues to wreak havoc, despite receiving hundreds of millions in mostly United States taxpayer funds to combat terrorism and establish peace. The Somali Prime Minister’s support for Hamas is a paradox. It is impossible to truly defeat a terrorist group that you actively endorse and support. In other words, you cannot defeat that which you are.
The Prime Minister’s recent remarks were nothing short of astonishing if not downright despicable. He not only proclaimed that the liberation of Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque is imminent but also labeled Israel as the actual terrorists. His language, of course, was far from diplomatic, and it carried a disturbing genocidal undertone.
Rather than distancing itself from these blatently dehumanizing and inflammatory comments, President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud’s administration has resorted to deploying lobbyist in Washington, D.C., to whitewash and spin Prime Minister Hamse’s remarks and attempting to scapegoat Somaliland for the whole debacle. In essence, they are trying to put lipstick on an ugly anti-Semitic pig, all while ignoring the fact that the Somali Prime Minister openly lauded Hamas and essentially echoed Al-Shabaab’s statement on the subject.
The undeniable truth is that Somaliland, like Israel and Ukraine, is burdened with the sacred responsibility of safeguarding its people against terrorists and those who seek to kill and maime in the name of religion. On the flip side, Somalia’s Prime Minister has displayed an astonishing hypocrisy by selectively condemning global injustices while cozying up to Communist China and never uttering a word of protest on the plight of Muslim Uighurs. At the same time, he loudly cheers for Hamas, an organization responsible for killing innocent civilians and kidnapping even grandmothers and babies.
It’s high time the international community, particularly the United States, holds the Somali government accountable for its actions and rhetoric. Perhaps it’s time for Somalia to seek funding from sources more aligned with their newfound allegiances, like Hamas and Iran and China, to combat Al-Shabaab, as their actions and words have consequences that can no longer be brushed aside.