Questions Raised Over AFP Article by Mohamed Gabobe: Political Messaging Overshadows Somali Security Reality

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Questions Raised Over AFP Article by Mohamed Gabobe: Political Messaging Overshadows Somali Security Reality

A recent AFP report written by Mohamed Gabobe regarding the deportation of Mahad Maxamud from the United States has triggered considerable debate in Somalia. Many analysts argue that the article appears driven less by Somali security realities and mo

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A recent AFP report written by Mohamed Gabobe regarding the deportation of Mahad Maxamud from the United States has triggered considerable debate in Somalia. Many analysts argue that the article appears driven less by Somali security realities and more by diaspora political sentiment responding to former U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about Somali migrants.

Diaspora framing instead of Somali investigative sourcing

Gabobe, widely described as Somali-American and largely raised abroad, has spent most of his life outside Somalia. While this does not disqualify him from covering Somali affairs, it raises legitimate questions when reporting demonstrates limited reference to Somalia’s internal intelligence sources or historical context.

Somali journalist Abdisalan, based in Nairobi, noted:

"Mr. Gabobe’s reporting cannot be taken as established fact, but rather appears to reflect a political criticism against President Trump’s remarks targeting the Somali community.”

The main concern expressed by Somali reporters is that the AFP article seems to reproduce a political reaction to Trump rather than a field-based investigation of Somalia’s actual security archives related to the 2009 French kidnapping incident.

NISA officials: official intelligence requires official channels

Senior officials inside Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) stressed that sensitive information cannot be confirmed by just any staff member in the agency. According to these officials, intelligence material must come through authorised government offices, and random individuals cannot be treated as legitimate sources of classified information.

This raises immediate questions about how AFP verified its assertions, and through which Somali institutions the information was confirmed — if at all.

Historical context: AFP once relied on veteran Somali expertise

For many years, AFP relied on the respected veteran journalist Ali Musa Abdi, whose long service and deep knowledge of Somalia made him one of the most credible field reporters in the region. Following his passing in Italy, observers have noted a visible change in AFP’s Somalia coverage, with more reliance on remote commentary and less engagement with on-the-ground Somali investigation.

Sunatimes Editorial: fact-checking and Somali sourcing required

Sunatimes News Agency, where veteran journalists such as the late Ali Musa Abdi worked, emphasises that its newsroom continues to be staffed by experienced Somali journalists relied upon internationally, and that every investigation published by Sunatimes undergoes strict verification.

According to the Editor-in-Chief of Sunatimes:

"Our concern is that the AFP journalist behind the recent article failed to contact us or seek clarification, despite Sunatimes holding extensive investigative material on this issue. Instead of consulting credible Somali sources, the story appears to have been written from a distance, without engaging those with direct knowledge.”

Conclusion

Political criticism of Donald Trump may be fashionable among some diaspora commentators, but Somalia’s security history cannot be reduced to U.S. domestic emotion. The case of Mahad Maxamud requires rigorous, fact-based inquiry rooted in authorised Somali intelligence channels, not diaspora-political projection.

AFP and other international media are encouraged to seek primary Somali sources, consult authorised intelligence offices, and engage Somali field journalists — instead of reproducing external narratives unrelated to Somalia’s actual investigative record.