Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has blamed the federal government for failing to adequately address Somalia’s worsening humanitarian crisis, citing hunger, malnutrition, displacement and declining aid.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Former Somali prime minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has sharply criticised the federal government, accusing it of failing to respond adequately to a worsening humanitarian crisis as millions of Somalis face hunger, malnutrition, displacement and declining access to basic services.
Kheyre said the four years under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had been characterised, in his assessment, by a lack of vision, poor planning and mismanagement. He also accused the government of corruption, the alleged misuse of national assets and contributing to the displacement of vulnerable communities.
His comments come as Somalia faces a severe humanitarian emergency driven by a combination of drought, conflict, displacement, high food prices and a major decline in humanitarian funding.
“Today’s humanitarian conditions are not solely a natural disaster,” Kheyre said, linking the crisis to conflict, displacement and what he described as inadequate government preparedness.
United Nations agencies warned in May that around six million Somalis — about 31 percent of the population — were facing crisis levels of food insecurity between April and June 2026. The same assessment said about 1.9 million children were affected by acute malnutrition, including 493,000 facing severe acute malnutrition. (The United Nations in Somalia)
The United Nations has attributed the deterioration to several overlapping shocks, including severe drought, insecurity, limited humanitarian assistance and rising food and fuel prices. It has also warned of a risk of famine in parts of Southwest State if conditions deteriorate further and humanitarian assistance is not increased. (The United Nations in Somalia)
Kheyre said the federal government lacked what he described as a comprehensive national plan and agenda to address the needs of vulnerable Somalis. He also criticised the authorities over the impact of declining international aid on health and nutrition services.
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The funding shortfall has already affected humanitarian operations. UN agencies said in May that more than 500 health and nutrition facilities had closed across Somalia because of insufficient funding, while the 2026 humanitarian response plan was only 15.2 percent funded at the time. Nearly 90 percent of people were receiving little or no humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. (The United Nations in Somalia)
The humanitarian situation has remained severe in subsequent months. A UN update in July said 6.49 million people were facing acute food insecurity, while nearly two million children were acutely malnourished. The UN also warned that declining humanitarian funding was compounding the effects of drought, conflict and displacement. (The United Nations in Somalia)
Kheyre further accused the government of contributing to rising internal displacement, particularly through the removal of poor and vulnerable residents from their homes in Mogadishu.
His criticism comes amid a broader political dispute in Somalia, where opposition figures and government supporters remain divided over governance, security, elections and the country's political direction.
The federal government has not, in the material cited here, directly responded to Kheyre's specific accusations of corruption, mismanagement or responsibility for forced displacement.
The former prime minister's remarks highlight the increasingly political dimension of Somalia's humanitarian crisis, as authorities and international organisations face pressure to mobilise resources while millions of people remain dependent on emergency assistance.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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