Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia : Somalia has a serious security challenge

Summary

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The Interview (BBC World Service)

Episode: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia: Somalia has a serious security challenge
Date: September 28, 2025
Host: Paul Njie
Guest: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia
Location: Villa Somalia, Mogadishu

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Episode Summary

Main Theme

This episode features a rare, in-depth conversation with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia. The discussion revolves around Somalia’s complex security environment, specifically the ongoing fight against Al Shabaab and ISIS, diplomatic tensions with Ethiopia, issues of national unity concerning Somaliland, and the nation’s democratic and economic trajectory. President Mohamud addresses both external perceptions and internal realities, offering his blueprint for peace and statehood.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Security Situation: The Fight Against Al Shabaab and ISIS

• Somalia’s Security Evolution (04:49)
  • President Mohamud outlines the 35-year history of security challenges, including civil war, fragile transitional governments, and the current focus on terrorism.
  • He identifies Al Shabaab and ISIS as the main threats now, claiming “most of the towns and cities have been liberated from Al Shabaab,” though "they still operate in rural areas" and remain a “serious challenge.”
• Three-Pronged Counter-Terror Strategy (07:34)
  • Military: Continuing the fight on the ground.
  • Ideological: Mobilizing religious scholars and launching a government TV channel to counter extremist propaganda.
  • Financial: Shutting down accounts and disrupting Al Shabaab’s financial operations.
  • He insists these strategies have reduced terrorist incidents in Mogadishu:
    “In the month of August, there was not one single incident of death in Mogadishu. So it's a very good indicator.” (06:44)
• Personal Threats and Resilience (08:38)
  • Survived five assassination attempts by Al Shabaab:
    “The attack was really serious ... but I’m expecting more and more.”
    On living with threat:
    “It’s not rational logic not to expect I would be free from any risk from the war. ... I will not be [a] prisoner for the fear.” (09:09)

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2. International Relations & The "Terrorist Safe Haven" Label

• Disputing U.S. Travel Ban Justifications (09:39)
  • President Mohamud pushes back against the U.S. designation of Somalia as a “terrorist safe haven,” arguing that expansion of government authority proves otherwise:
    “A safe haven of a terrorist is where the terrorist is not challenged.”
  • Expresses disappointment over lack of consultation from the U.S. government and frames the ban as “related to politics.”
• UN Security Council Membership (11:06)
  • Celebrates Somalia’s seat as proof of national progress and international legitimacy:
    “That itself is a proof that Somalia is defeating Al Shabaab.”

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3. Regional Tensions: Ethiopia, Egypt, and Proxy Wars

• Welcoming Egyptian Troops Amid Ethiopia-Egypt Rift (12:10)
  • Affirms neutrality in Ethiopia-Egypt disputes and rejects speculation that Somalia is becoming a "proxy theater":
    “Somalia is at peace with itself and at peace with the rest of the world. ... We are neutral. We don’t want any conflict with any other country.”
• Egyptian Forces Not a Provocation (13:29)
  • Denies reports that Egyptian troops are being stationed near the Ethiopian border, clarifying,
    “Egypt is just manning the sector that our brothers from Burundi was manning ... no Egyptian forces are going anywhere closer to the Ethiopian border.”
• Guaranteeing No Ethiopia-Egypt Conflict (14:11)
  • “There is no even proximity of the two troops at all. ... We will never allow proxy wars ... We are fed up of war.”

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4. Somalia-Ethiopia Bilateral Relations & Port Access

• Post-Ankara Agreements (16:14)
  • Describes relationship with Ethiopia as improved after Turkey-mediated negotiations, highlighting necessity of collaboration for border security.
• Ethiopia and Sea Access (17:25)
  • Open to Ethiopia using Somali ports but stresses terms must be “commercial, with agreements, conditions, financial setups.”
  • On Ethiopia creating its own port (“the Somaliland deal”):
    “Everything is possible if we agree and see a mutual interest. ... But now we are discussing ... commercial access.”

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5. Somaliland Secession and International Recognition

• Position on Somaliland (19:10)
  • Reiterates unwavering opposition to secession, citing international law and African Union charter:
    “Somaliland is part of Somalia ... But the unity of Somalia is sacrosanct.”
  • Will not accept U.S. (or any) recognition of Somaliland:
    “We will never accept that recognition. And the whole world will not accept it ... That will not happen.” (21:20)
• Possible Concessions (20:33)
  • Open to accommodating grievances “other than secession” to preserve unity.

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6. Aid Cuts, Recovery & Electoral Reform

• Impact of U.S. Aid Cuts (21:51)
  • Admits negative effects but states:
    “We are talking with the United States government to make some review ... the Somali government is trying its best to address those humanitarian aid challenges.”
• Post-Debt Relief Development (23:30)
  • Lists expanded services and infrastructure as proof debt relief is helping, despite criticism that public doesn’t feel benefits yet.
• Upcoming Elections & Commitment to Democracy (24:05)
  • Plans for one-person-one-vote for the first time in 57 years:
    “If that succeeds and the Somali people elect someone else, I don’t have any problem to hand over peacefully.”
• Willingness to Accept Election Defeat (24:05)
  • References peaceful transfer of power in his prior term.
• Constitutional Reform (25:14)
  • Dismisses claims it's a power grab, arguing status quo is unsustainable:
    “No, no, no, no. That's a wrong system. ... Somalia has to move further towards democracy.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Somaliland is our dear brothers and sisters. We respect them, we respect their views. But the unity of Somalia is sacrosanct.” – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (03:37)
• “Al Shabaab is weak, but compared to their past, but still they are a very serious challenge to the security of the country.” (05:58)
• “I will not be [a] prisoner for the fear, being afraid of Al Shabaab.” (09:09)
• “We have a mutual interest on fight against the terrorists and we are working together.” – on Ethiopia-Somalia collaboration (17:18)
• “We will never accept that recognition. And the whole world will not accept it. The African Union will not accept it. ... That will not happen.” – on U.S. recognition of Somaliland (21:20)
• “If that succeeds and the Somali people elect someone else, I don’t have any problem to hand over peacefully.” (24:16)
• “Somalia has to move further towards democracy.” (25:14)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Somalia’s security history & current challenges: 04:49–06:44
• Counterterrorism strategy explained: 07:34–08:38
• Assassination attempts & presidential risks: 08:38–09:39
• Response to U.S. “terrorist safe haven” designation: 09:39–10:23
• Somalia’s UN Security Council membership: 11:06–11:46
• Ethiopia-Egypt-Somalia regional dynamics: 12:10–14:11
• Stance on Somaliland's independence: 19:10–21:49
• US aid cuts and impact: 21:51–22:41
• Debt relief and development: 23:30–23:54
• Election plans and democratic reform: 24:05–25:14

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Tone & Delivery

President Mohamud remains cordial, resolute, and pragmatic. Despite tough questioning, he emphasizes unity, progress, and self-determination, frequently referencing international law, security priorities, and democratic principles. His tone is both diplomatically cautious and firmly assertive regarding Somalia’s sovereignty and future.

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Transcript

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

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[Paul Njie]

Hello, I'm Paul Njie, BBC reporter, and this is the interview from the BBC World Service. The best conversations coming out of the BBC people shaping our world from all over the world.

[Interviewer]

There have been so many disagreements between me and my family.

[Chip Kleinxel]

Putting on a show.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

That is what it means. To be Lady Gaga.

[Interviewer]

Only the things that you can't solve.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

With government and private sector is where you bring philanthropy in.

[Interviewer]

There's no place in the world where women are equal.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Every generation, every generation has to fight to maintain democracy.

[Paul Njie]

For this interview, I met Hassan Sheikh Mohammed, the President of Somalia, at the Presidential palace in Mogadishu. You're going to hear about his strategy to tackle the ongoing terrorist insurgency in his country through military force, but also ideological campaigns and financial measures and whether it's working. A travel ban has been imposed on Somalia by the United States, which accuses it of providing a safe haven for terrorists, a view he vigorously contests. President Muhammad also stands resolute in the face of demands for secession by the region of Somaliland, a self declared republic within Somalia. His country, he says, will not be divided.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Somaliland is part of Somalia. Yes, they have grievances, yes, they have different way of governing. But Somalia is a federal country today. Chances has been given to all people in different regions to have a say on the way they are ruled. Somalian has the same right, but within the framework of unity. So Somaliland is our dear brothers and sisters. We respect them, we respect their views. But the unity of Somalia is a sacrosanct.

[Paul Njie]

In the run up to next year's election, the President wants to see every citizen allowed to vote. A break from the current electoral system of voting by clan elders. His opponents accuse him of trying to further his own prospects. But he says the change is essential to move Somalia towards democracy. Somalia has a long history of civil unrest that has drawn in US and African Union troops Since the installation of an internationally backed government in 2012 led by Hassan Sheikh Mohammed in his first term as president, it has been making slow progress towards greater stability. Welcome to the interview from the BBC World Service with Hassan Sheikh Mohammed.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

The security in Somalia has a long background. We have gone through different security challenges that this country went through for the last 35 years. There was 10 years civil war and then there was 12 years of transitional government. And then there is another 12 years, 13 years of permanent government which is not transition but very fragile. Recently there is no more civil war. There is no more other challenges in place. The only security challenge today we have is the terrorists Al Shabaab and ISIS as well. You know, Somalia has a very serious challenge of security because fighting both Al Shabaab and ISIS in two different areas and Al Shabaab and ISIS are the most notorious terrorists in the world today, particularly Al Shabaab, which is Al Qaeda affiliated, is the strongest fight faction or offshore of Al Qaeda, which is still existing today. Our challenges now is Somalia with its own other fertility challenges in place. Building an army and at the same time fighting on the other hand. So in the last three years we have achieved significant success and progress in the fight against these groups. ISIS in the northeastern Somalia has been almost neutralized. The war is still going on. The challenges are still there. Most of the towns and cities has been liberated from Al Shabaab, but still the rural area. They still operate in the rural area. Al Shabaab is weak, but compared to their past, but still they are a very serious challenge to the security of the country.

[Interviewer]

You say that Al Shabaab is weak, Mr. President, but in recent months they have been capturing territories. And your critics say that your government does not have a clear strategy to defeat them. What do you say to that?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No, I totally disagree. And that's not realistic. Either they don't know Somalia or they do not follow up with what the government is doing. Is that here in this country, al Shabaab is 18 years old. In this country, yes. There was a very serious propaganda that Al Shabaab is going to take over Somalia, going to take over Mogadishu. Al Shabaab is going to become like Taliban in Afghanistan. All this I can say only merely propaganda. Here we are in Mogadishu, where suicide bomb cars and suicide bomb was common a few years back. And now it happens. For example, in the month of August, there was no one single incident of death in Mogadishu. So it's a very good indicator, number one. Number two, I do disagree. Again, the saying that says the government has no strategy, we have.

[Interviewer]

What's the strategy?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Traditionally, Al Shabaab was fought with military only when we come to the office three years back, we developed a strategy to fight Al Shabaab. Instead of having a military side war only, we have opened many other fronts. Ideological war, we call it meetings for all religious scholars all over the world, Somalis in diaspora inside the country. The major scholars of Somalia told the people that what Al Shabaab is doing and Islamic and that's nothing to do. That's another new front that we operated. We established a television channel that advocates for the peaceful means. The other front, the second front, besides the military and the ideological, the third front was fighting financing alter. We have closed so many accounts in banks, in the mobile money and we go after it. Still we didn't reach 100% where we wanted. But we disabled Al Shaba financial movement. So These are the three pronged strategies that the government has established three years ago.

[Interviewer]

But Mr. President, in March, you yourself survived an assassination attempt by the same group, Al Shabaab. And many said that it pointed to the strength that the group is gaining within the capital, Mogadishu itself. What did that attack mean to you?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No, no, no, no. The attack was really serious one, it was not easy one. But Al Shabab has attempted me five times because they believe assassinating the president, creating confusion in the country. And I'm expecting more and more.

[Interviewer]

Do you sometimes live with the fear that one day you could be killed by Al Shabaab?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Of course. I'm the president of this country and my life is very, very important for this country. But I'm in a war. It's not rational logic not to expect that I would be free from any risk from the war. I take that risk and I have been standing in front where Al Shabaab can sneak individually. So I will do everything that my security apparatus protects me. But I will not be prison for the fear, being afraid of Al Shaba.

[Interviewer]

In June, the Trump administration issued a travel ban on several countries, including Somalia. And they described your nation as a quote, terrorist safe haven where government lacks command and control of its territory. Is this a fair portrayal of your country?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Well, after 35 years and very fragile situation of my government still, yes, I can say many parts of Somalia still are Shabab controls. But we are expanding every time. The circles of the authority of the state is expanding every other day and every other week. So that is it is still there, but we are going.

[Interviewer]

So it's fair to say your country is a terrorist safe haven?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No, no, no. I completely disagree. A safe haven of a terrorist is where the terrorist is not challenged.

[Interviewer]

Did you express your disapproval to President Trump?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

I disapprove the term that Somalia is a terrorist state's haven. I disagree and I disapprove that.

[Interviewer]

So what have you done to address the concerns that the U.S. government raised?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Well, the United States government has the right to decide its own policies. And the facts and the realities that policies are based is for them. We don't know, we have not been consulted. Somalia is not the only place. So I believe that that's it related to politics. It doesn't relate to either the relationship or the reality in the ground.

[Interviewer]

Somalia now is a non permanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time since 1972. What does that mean for you and how are you leveraging on this?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

That's proof that Somalia is progressing. You know, we have been dealing with the rest of the world. We have been lifted the army's embargo on Somalia. After 32 years, we have been given the debt relief of almost $5 billion. And we have accepted in many organizations the East Africa Community, like the United Nations Security Council. Last time we were in the United nations security council of 1972. And since then, Somalia has never been a member. Today, Somalia is a member. That itself is a proof that Somalia is defeating Al Shabaab or Al Shabaab in Somalia is not as they were years ago.

[Interviewer]

Mr. President, let's talk about some regional dynamics now because Somalia is preparing to welcome Egyptian troops in the coming days or months or weeks. You know better. I wonder why you think this is an appropriate time for them to come in when there is this rift between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam. Are you not creating a proxy theater for both countries?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No. No, we do not. Ethiopia and Egypt are two independent states. They can have their own differences and they can have their own points of good relationship. But Somalia has a good relationship with both of them. Egypt is a member of the African Union and they have all the right to be part of the African Union mission. They are not here to fight or to proxy war with Ethiopia. No. Yes. We have a very, very old and ancient relationship with Egypt. Somalia is an independent state which deals its own foreign policy. We have a very, very good relationship with both countries in Egypt and Ethiopia. And this is based on our principle, which is, you know, when it comes to peace, we say our slogan is Somalia at peace with itself and Somalia at peace with the rest of the world. We keep continuing on like that. We are neutral. We don't want to have any conflict or any animosity with any other country in the world unless that country wants it to have a problem with Somalia. We don't have.

[Interviewer]

Mr. President, you say that the Egyptian forces are not coming to cause trouble with Ethiopia. But there are also reports that suggest that these Egyptian troops will be stationed along the border with Ethiopia, especially in areas where Ethiopian forces are already present, notably in Ghedo and Iran regions. Isn't this a direct provocation towards Ethiopia?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

That's not true. This is one of the false information that has been taken out of Somalia by those who are interested to keep Somalia at the current status quo.

[Interviewer]

So what's the truth?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Egypt is just manning the sector that our brothers from Burundi was manning, which is an area that is 100km from Mogadishu. There is no Egyptian forces that is going to anywhere closer to the Ethiopian border. They do not have that intention. And their African Union sectorization of Somalia and the peacekeeping forces, that's where they are. The Ethiopians are very far from Mogadishu as well.

[Interviewer]

You are the president of this country. Do you guarantee that there will be no conflict between Ethiopian and Egyptian troops in the months to come?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

I don't see any reason why that question comes. The peacekeeping forces of Ethiopia and the peacekeeping forces of India has no any proximity. Proximity whatsoever. If they want to fight, they can fight by themselves. But in Somalia's locations there is no any even proximity of the two troops at all. There are hundreds of kilometers apart. They are. And I didn't see any intention of Egypt to disrupt Ethiopia and I didn't see any intention of Ethiopia to fight or disrupt the peacekeeping forces of Egypt. In Somalia there is no proxy war. And we are not. We will never allow proxy wars to have been placed here in Somalia. We are fed up of war. We don't need any new war. We have our own problem, we have our own wars. We don't want others to come to this country and fight on us. No, that will not happen.

[Paul Njie]

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For this episode of the interview. I'm speaking to Hassan Sheikh Mohammed, the President of Somalia. We met in his presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu, known here as Villa Somalia. The new stylish building cost $6 million and the President's team exploited every opportunity to show us its splendor and make.

[Interviewer]

Sure we knew its worth.

[Paul Njie]

The President himself was cordial and calm, just as he appears in public. Ok, let's return to my conversation with Hassan Sheikh Mohammed.

[Interviewer]

How would you describe relations between Somalia and Ethiopia after the rift over Addis Ababa's controversial pot deal with Somal year?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

It was a very unfortunate incident that's happened, but Somalia and Ethiopia had a very good relationship. For yes, we have a difficult history of the past, but that bench has turned on and this comes now after the agreement of Somalia and Ethiopia in Ankara Turkey we have further improved. We have exchanged visitors. Prime minister of Ethiopia visited here, I visited Addis Ababa and then we have a number of meetings and Ethiopia is collaborating with us. We Somalis and the Ethiopia, our neighbour Ethiopia. We are neighbors. We are not neighbors by choice. We didn't choose them, they didn't choose us. The only way out we have is to work together on the mutual interests that we have, particularly the security issue. We have almost close to 2000km of borderline with Ethiopia. And you know that border is porous. If we don't have purpose of unit against the terrorists, it will be both challenge to Ethiopia and to us. So we have a mutual interest on fight against the terrorists and we are working together.

[Interviewer]

And as part of the Turkey mediation, which you just referenced a little earlier, you both agreed to finalize mutually beneficial commercial deals which included giving Ethiopia access to the sea. Where are you on that deal right now?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

In principally we have never refused access to the sea by Ethiopia. We never. The only question that we have been some differences in the past was how how Ethiopia is going to access to the sea. And I think there are discussions are going on, not yet finalized. But Somalia principally have no problem at all Ethiopia to commercially have a full access to the Somali the long coast of Somalia.

[Interviewer]

So you want Ethiopia to have access to the port in Somalia, but the question is would you allow Ethiopia to create its own port which was initially, as was reported, part of the deal it had with Somaliland?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

You know, if people sit together and have a real, real genuine discussion on all, everything is possible if we agree and see it mutual interest. But now what we are discussing is a commercial access to the ports of Somalia. And Ethiopia is a very big country, very populated country, but it's one of the landlocked countries all over Africa. And There are almost 16, 17 African countries where all of them are landlocked, but all of them have access to the sea. Access to the sea has come to an agreement, terms, conditions, financial setups. These are what we are going to discuss and agree. But we never have rejected Ethiopia to have access to the sea commercially.

[Interviewer]

I did mention Somaliland a little earlier and US Senator Ted Cruz has urged President Donald Trump to formally recognize it as an independent state. What's your take on that?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

I don't think that that was an ideal statement and that is a violation to the African Union Charter and the United Nations Charter. And the African Union in 1963 has recognized the colonial borders are the genuine African borders. So Somalia today respects that Somaliland is part of Somalia. Yes, they have grievances, yes, they have different way of governing the whole Somalia and their part as well. But Somalia is a federal country today. Chances has been given to all people in different regions to have a say on the way they are governed, on the way they are ruled. Somalan has the same right, but within the framework of unity. And I as a president of Somalia, publicly make an apologetic statement, apologize for what has happened in the name of Somali state in the past to all Somali people. Unexception to Somalian people. But that doesn't mean we have so many commonalities, so many issues that bonds us together than dividing us. So Somaliland is our dear brothers and sisters. We respect them, we respect their views. But the unit of Somalia is sacrosanct.

[Interviewer]

The unity of Somalia is sacrosanct. You seem to position that as a core message. But what concessions are you ready to make to see that unity come to fruition?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

We are here to do whatever that makes the Somalian people and leaders feel that they are part of Somalia. Anything other. No, anything other than secession, we will not accept that.

[Interviewer]

But you're coming to the table with preconceived ideas already. How do you solve that problem?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Unity of the country. This is the mandate I have from my constitution. We have act of Union in 1960. This is one unified country. And it has been like that for 65 years. Yes, there are grievances, concerns which we are ready to address.

[Interviewer]

If President Donald Trump adheres to the advice of Senator Ted Cruz and goes ahead to formally decide that Somaliland is now an independent state, to formally recognize it, what do you do?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

We will never accept that recognition. And the whole world will not accept it. The African Union will not accept it. The Arab League, United nations will not accept it. That will not happen.

[Interviewer]

Will you sever diplomatic relations with the U.S. no, no.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

We have a very good relationship. Politicians can express their views and it.

[Interviewer]

Comes as a formal recognition from the United States. It will be the first country to ever recognize it.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

And I believe that it will not come. This is a world that deals with regulations and rules of international law. America is not a violator of international law.

[Interviewer]

All right, Mr. President, let's talk something else.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Now.

[Interviewer]

How would you describe the human cost of USAID funding cuts in Somalia?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

There is an impact on the way of it in all aspects. The U.S. aid was supporting Somalia in the name of the United States government. And cutting that aid has some impact in social service, in the security, in many other places, but I think that is temporary. We are talking with the United States government to make some review on what has happened. Not necessarily that the US Aid will come back, but the support of the American government. We believe that they will review that support and they will somehow make adjustments.

[Interviewer]

Your economy is said to be highly dependent on aid. So how is it surviving now, given these aid cuts and the security challenges that prevail?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

As I said, the humanitarian aspect, it will affect us because there was huge funding, not only from usaid, but from many parts of the world. And Somali government is doing its part as well to address those challenges. Since I came to the office in 2022, established institutions directly addressing those challenges, establishing the first time in the history of Somalia the Minister of Environment, the Somali Disaster Management Agency and many others. So the Somali government is trying its best to address those humanitarian aid challenges.

[Interviewer]

In late 2023, Somalia achieved debt relief. And people argue that the proceeds of that or economic recovery is not being felt by the wider population in Somalia. What accounts for that?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Today? There are a lot of development projects going on. Schools are expanding. There is almost a thousand classes that has been opened throughout Somalia. There are 10,000 teachers that have been recruited. There has been electrification of schools and hospitals in remote areas of Somalia. All these development projects would have never come unmaterialized without the debt relief.

[Interviewer]

Your term expires sometime mid next year and you're currently preparing the country for elections. How are those plans going? And do you commit to peacefully hand over power if you are defeated in the elections?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Well, I was president for four and a half years here in Mogadishu. I organized the election and I was defeated. And I immediately accepted that left the office peacefully. Now I'm organizing again. One person, one vote for Somalia after 57 years. And if that succeeds and the Somali people elect someone else, I don't have any problem to hand over beast of food and leave those.

[Interviewer]

That's the challenge. The one man, one vote. Because people say that the security situation in the country remains dire and it's not feasible to have people come out to vote. Will you take responsibility for any possible violence that comes up during the election?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Why? I took full responsibility, of course. The Somali state apparatus took full responsibility, and I'm their president. I'm not going to risk the lives of the Somalis. We have enough security forces to protect the locations where the elections are taking place.

[Interviewer]

Not everybody is in favor of your decision to amend the interim constitution. The opposition leaders are saying that you want to stay in power.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No, no, no. That was what they were saying in 2016.

[Interviewer]

But why introduce changes to a system that brought you into power?

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

No, no, no, no. That's a wrong system. We cannot remain the current status quo. It's not maintainable. Somalia has to move further towards democracy.

[Paul Njie]

Thank you for listening to the interview from the BBC World Service. You'll find more in depth conversations on the interview wherever you get your BBC podcasts, including episodes with President Lula da Silva of Brazil, tennis great Martina Navratilova and political economist Francis Fukuyama. Until the next time. Bye for now.

[Asma Khalid]

America is changing and so is the world. But what's happening in America isn't just.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

A cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.

[Asma Khalid]

I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C. i'm.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Tristan Redman in London, and this is the Global story.

[Asma Khalid]

Every weekday we'll bring you a story from this intersection where the world and America meet.

[Hassan Sheikh Mohammed]

Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.