Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad), has defended his ministry’s decision to reject a visa application procedure letter submitted by South Africa.
Ali Balcad explained that the South African government had inquired with Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the delegation led by former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, questioning who had officially invited him to South Africa.
The South African government raised concerns over the legitimacy of Roble’s delegation, consisting of ministers and parliamentarians, without an official invitation letter from the Somali government.
In response, Ali Balcad stated that Member of Parliament Abdullahi Arab reached out to embassy officials, clarifying that he was traveling on a Somali passport, which facilitated his visa process.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, MP Abdullahi Arab criticized Minister Ali Balcad, alleging that he personally blocked the letter and prevented it from being processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives. Arab further mentioned that after realizing the letter had been blocked and time was running out, he and other MPs went to the Parliament committee to secure visas for the delegation. Despite their efforts, some members, including former Prime Minister Roble, were unable to travel.
Former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble addressed the situation by expressing that while some of his colleagues were negatively affected by the incident, they would be held accountable upon his return. He emphasized that he would not accept the actions of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud if they mirrored those of former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.