Former Ethiopian Ambassador to Somalia Suleiman Dedefo wrote firewall massage after his diplomatic mission completion in Mogadishu.
Ambassador Dedefo recalled his time in Mogadishu and says apart from his good things in Somalia, the people of Somalia deserve better life and better security.
Below is his X post:
As I leave Mogadishu upon the completion of my tour of duty, I do so with a heart filled with gratitude, affection, and many unforgettable memories.
I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Somalia for the kindness, friendship, generosity, and hospitality that I received throughout my stay.
From the highest levels of government to ordinary citizens I encountered in my daily life, I was touched by the warmth and genuine human connection of the Somali people.
My time in Somalia was not simply a diplomatic assignment. It became a human experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I made friends, built relationships, shared hopes and concerns, and came to appreciate even more deeply the strength, dignity, resilience, and hospitality of the Somali people.
Yet, as I depart, my heart is not entirely light. I leave with a profound sadness because I have witnessed the pain and hardship that the Somali people continue to endure as a result of insecurity and instability.
No people should have to live without the peace and security that are fundamental to human dignity.
The Somali people deserve peace. They deserve security. They deserve freedom, dignity, opportunity, and prosperity. They deserve to see their children grow up in a safe and peaceful country and to look toward the future with hope rather than fear.
I sincerely hope that Somalia’s leaders and political actors will rise above differences and divisions and place the national interest and the aspirations of the Somali people above all else. The responsibility is great, but so too is the opportunity to build a peaceful, united, stable, and prosperous Somalia.
The people of Somalia also need the continued friendship and support of their regional and international partners. As friends and neighbours, we all have a responsibility to stand with the Somali people in their journey toward lasting peace and development.
I leave Somalia with enormous respect for its people and with sincere prayers for its future. Whatever disagreements may exist at the political level, my affection for the Somali people remains unchanged.
Ethiopia and Somalia share something far deeper than a border. Our peoples are connected by history, geography, culture, religion, family ties, and generations of human interaction. I sincerely hope that these enduring bonds will continue to bring our two peoples closer together and that Ethiopia and Somalia will always find more reasons to cooperate than to disagree.
To my Somali brothers and sisters, to my colleagues in government, to members of the diplomatic community, to the security institutions, to civil society, to journalists, and to all the friends I made during my stay:
Thank you for welcoming me. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for the memories.
I may be leaving Somalia, but Somalia will not leave my heart.
May Allah bless the Somali people, grant the country lasting peace and security, and guide its leaders toward wisdom, reconciliation, unity, and prosperity.
