A dispute involving Somali officials at Somalia’s Embassy in Serbia has sparked widespread debate on social media after audio recordings and videos emerged showing two men arguing over who has the legal authority to use the embassy building and represent Somalia diplomatically.
The recordings appear to center on questions of official appointment, diplomatic authority, and control of the Somali Embassy in Belgrade.
In the exchanges, the two men are heard challenging each other over who has the right to enter, manage, or operate from the embassy premises, raising broader questions about the administration of Somalia’s diplomatic mission in Serbia.
The leaked audio also includes discussions about ambassadorial appointment documents, with one side questioning whether the other possesses official credentials authorizing him to serve as Somalia’s ambassador.
The argument later shifts to the embassy building itself, with both men disputing who leased the property and who has the legal authority to use it as Somalia’s diplomatic mission.
At one point, a voice heard in the recordings reportedly states, “I am not an ambassador,” a remark that has further fueled speculation surrounding the dispute. However, such a statement alone does not constitute official confirmation regarding an individual’s diplomatic status.
According to publicly available records, Ambassador Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed remains the officially recognized Ambassador of Somalia to Serbia.
The official website of the Somali Embassy in Belgrade identifies him as ambassador, while Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lists H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed as Somalia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Official embassy records indicate that Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed arrived in Belgrade in August 2021 as Chargé d’Affaires before being formally appointed ambassador in June 2022.
Serbia’s diplomatic registry, updated in March 2026, continues to recognize him as Somalia’s accredited ambassador.
The name “Galad” is mentioned in the recordings and appears to be associated with one of the individuals involved in the dispute.
However, no publicly available documentation from Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy in Belgrade currently identifies a person by that name as Somalia’s ambassador to Serbia.
Another major point of contention concerns the embassy building itself. The two sides are heard disputing who rented the premises, who controls access to the facility, and who has the legal authority to operate from the compound.
One party insists the premises are the official Embassy of Somalia, while the other questions the legitimacy of the individual claiming authority over the building.
The recordings also suggest that access to part of the embassy may have been restricted during the dispute, with references made to a locked entrance.
If confirmed, such developments could raise concerns about the functioning of Somalia’s diplomatic mission and the management of official government property abroad.
Observers note that the argument appears to go beyond a routine administrative disagreement, with both men directly challenging each other’s authority and legitimacy.
If the confrontation indeed occurred within an official diplomatic facility, it could have implications for Somalia’s image abroad, as embassies serve as the primary representatives of the country in foreign states.
The dispute comes at a time when Somalia and Serbia maintain long-standing diplomatic relations dating back to 1960.
Both governments have recently expressed interest in expanding cooperation in areas such as diplomacy, education, security, and economic engagement.
Given the growing attention the incident has received online, there are increasing calls for Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the situation and address any administrative or diplomatic disagreements surrounding the embassy in Belgrade.
Without an official response, speculation and unverified claims are likely to continue circulating on social media.