In a bold diplomatic move, Somali caretaker Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble expelled African Union envoy Francisco Madeira for “activities incompatible with his status,” widely interpreted as espionage and political meddling. Madeira, Special Representative of the AU Commission and head of ATMIS, had long been viewed as closely aligned with President Farmaajo and Somalia’s intelligence service (NISA), drawing criticism from the opposition and international observers for partisan behavior. The decision followed a leaked audio recording in which Madeira criticized Somali leaders and aligned himself with Farmaajo’s camp. His comments sparked outrage, confirming suspicions that the AU mission was entangled in Somalia’s political struggles. The directive also exposed deep rifts within ATMIS and Somalia’s own government, as Farmaajo quickly countered Roble’s move, claiming the PM lacked authority.
AFRICOM has declared Somalia’s Al-Shabaab as al-Qaida’s largest, wealthiest, and most active global affiliate, attributing its growing power to reduced counterterrorism pressure and political dysfunction. In response, Somalia’s Federal Government (FGS) and the African Union (AU) unveiled the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a rebranded version of AMISOM, aiming to defeat Al-Shabaab within two years. ATMIS proposes intensified offensive operations, advanced weaponry, and greater security responsibilities for Somali forces. However, critics argue the plan rests on unrealistic assumptions, ignoring Somalia’s deep political divisions and the FGS’s track record of deploying elite forces for political repression rather than counterterrorism.