Mogadishu, Somalia – Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has urged Somalis to disregard a series of derogatory remarks by US President Donald Trump, stating that responding would only amplify the comments.
Speaking in Mogadishu on Wednesday, PM Barre noted that Trump’s language was neither novel nor exclusive to Somalia, as he had used similar terms for various African countries.
“Trump has insulted many nations, including Nigeria and South Africa. Certain things require no response; we bypass them. Ignoring is better than elevating his words to an issue,” the Prime Minister stated.
His comments followed Trump’s latest verbal assault on Somalis a day earlier, labeling them “garbage” and declaring he did not want them in the United States. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly disputed Somalia’s nationhood, claiming it “is not even a country” and “has no government.”
Mogadishu authorities have refrained from formal replies to the US President’s statements thus far. Analysts indicate the government is cautious about endangering security cooperation with Washington, a crucial partner in battling Al-Shabaab militants.
