By: Zamzam Mohamed Osman

Dawan Media – May 31, 2025 – Daahir Mahmoud Geelle, former Presidential Advisor and now official spokesperson for Somalia’s opposition, has publicly addressed his decision to leave Villa Somalia, stating that while the position he held was one of great weight and prestige, the country’s current political climate compelled him to step aside.

“Being a presidential advisor is a significant responsibility anywhere in the world,” Geelle told Dawan Media. “It is not an easy decision to walk away from such a role and join the opposition. But the advice I want to share is something the Somali people genuinely need — and I believe it is better delivered from outside government.”

Geelle, who has held several high-level roles including Minister of Information, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Member of Parliament, said his departure was amicably acknowledged by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“The President and I understood that our time of working together had come to an end,” he said, adding that his new role will allow him to advocate more clearly for constitutional order, transparent elections, and a political system that serves the people — not individuals.

In recent statements, Geelle has accused the government of reshaping electoral laws to favor a single person, calling for a return to constitutional integrity and broader participation in Somalia’s democratic process.

“The Somali people have twice elected this president — the first to be re-elected in our history,” he noted. “He should not turn his back on the system that made that possible.”

Geelle’s remarks come amid growing political activity in Mogadishu, where opposition leaders have held a series of consultative meetings to discuss electoral reform and institutional independence.