28/08/2025
Somali Government Moves to New York: Security Risks, Lavish Spending, and the Leaked Embassy Document
Mogadishu / New York – August 2025
A leaked document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia has revealed a delegation list of 32 senior officials traveling to New York for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), scheduled from September 9th to 23rd, 2025. The revelation has sparked widespread criticism inside Somalia and among diaspora communities, raising concerns over security risks, financial costs, and political accountability.
The Delegation List
According to the official letter sent to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, the Somali delegation will be led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accompanied by two Deputy Prime Ministers, several cabinet ministers, members of parliament, presidential advisors, and senior staff from the presidency. The delegation also includes security officers, protocol staff, a photographer, and a videographer.
The leaked document, stamped and signed in Mogadishu on August 16, 2025, confirms the scale of the trip and lists each official by name and title.
Security Concerns
Analysts and critics warn that placing so many high-ranking officials on a single trip—potentially even on the same aircraft—poses a severe national security risk. In the event of an accident or targeted attack, the Somali state could lose much of its political and security leadership at once.
Other countries often limit the number of top officials traveling together to reduce such risks, but Somalia’s government has made no indication of such precautions.
Financial Burden
The trip comes at a time when Somalia is grappling with a fragile economy, widespread poverty, and ongoing security challenges. Covering the costs of travel, accommodation in New York, allowances, and logistical expenses for such a large delegation will consume millions of dollars.
Critics argue that this spending is unjustifiable, given the country’s limited resources and the suffering of ordinary citizens. “When hospitals lack medicine and families struggle to afford basic food, how can the government justify flying dozens of ministers and advisors to New York?” asked one civil society activist in Mogadishu.
Political Backlash
The leak has fueled a wave of anger on Somali social media, where many citizens mockingly suggested that the entire government has relocated to New York. Others questioned whether the trip was more about luxury and prestige than advancing Somalia’s diplomatic agenda at the UN.
Some opposition figures have also accused the government of exploiting international conferences to secure travel perks while neglecting domestic governance.
Conclusion
The leaked delegation list has placed Somalia’s leadership under scrutiny at a critical time. While attending the UN General Assembly is important for global diplomacy, the scale, cost, and risks of this year’s trip have reignited debates about accountability, transparency, and priorities in Somali governance.
Unless the government can justify the necessity of every official on the list, the perception that Somalia’s leaders are out of touch with the hardships of their people will only deepen.
