MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has urged Somalis to ignore a series of derogatory remarks made by US President Donald Trump, saying responding would only elevate the comments.
Speaking in Mogadishu on Wednesday, Mr Barre said Mr Trump’s language was neither new nor unique to Somalia, noting that he had previously used similar terms when referring to several African nations.
“Trump has insulted many countries, including Nigeria and South Africa,” the Prime Minister said. “There are things that do not need comment; we leave them and skip. It is better to ignore than to make his words look like an issue.”
His remarks came a day after Mr Trump launched another verbal attack on Somalis, calling them “garbage” and saying he did not want them in the United States. In recent weeks, he has repeatedly questioned Somalia’s statehood, claiming the nation is “not even a country” and alleging it “has no government”.
Authorities in Mogadishu have so far refrained from issuing formal responses to the US president’s statements. Analysts say the government may be wary of jeopardising security ties with Washington, which remains a key partner in Somalia’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabab militants.
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