Mogadishu (Raxanreeb Online) – Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre has downplayed recent critical remarks made by former United States President Donald Trump about Somalia, describing them as part of a broader pattern of disparaging comments directed at many countries around the world.

The Prime Minister noted that Trump’s rhetoric was neither new nor specific to Somalia, and suggested that the country should not be distracted by such statements.

“Donald Trump has spoken negatively about many countries. It is better for us not to respond and simply move on,” Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre said.

His remarks follow recent comments by Trump in which he claimed that Somalia does not have a functioning government. The statement sparked anger among Somalis, both within the country and in the diaspora, who saw it as an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty and statehood.

In a related development, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar (Ali Balcad), issued a public response on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Many observers interpreted his statement as a direct rebuttal to Trump’s repeated verbal attacks on Somalis living in the United States and on Somalia’s political institutions. Trump had described Somalia as a country without a government, military or functioning system.

“Some people find it very easy to use Somalia as a pretext or to hide their own failures. This narrative is not only false, it is an insult to our resilience and our sacrifices. We must show unity, protect our dignity, and demonstrate to the world that we are not something that anyone can use as they wish,” Minister Ali Balcad wrote.

The responses from both the Prime Minister and the State Minister reflect the federal government’s effort to reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty, defend its national image and call for unity in the face of external criticism.