Somalia PM's Call Sparks Concerns Over Threat to UK MP Gavin Williamson

by: David Joseph | 27 July 2025 21:45

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Somalia PM's Call Sparks Concerns Over Threat to UK MP Gavin Williamson

NAIROBI, Kenya (HORN OBSERVER) – Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is under growing scrutiny after remarks made last week in Mogadishu appeared to incite Somalis in the UK to take action against British MP Sir Gavin Williamson.

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Somalia PM Hamza Abdi Barre himself has roots in Islah, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood to which Hamas is an affiliate.

NAIROBI, Kenya (HORN OBSERVER) – Somalia's Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is under growing scrutiny after remarks made last week in Mogadishu appeared to incite Somalis in the UK to take action against British MP Sir Gavin Williamson.

Addressing supporters during a government event, the Prime Minister accused the Conservative MP—who represents Stone, Great Wyrley, and Penkridge—of campaigning for Somaliland’s independence from Somalia.

"I call on Somalis in the UK. Where are you while every day British MPs are advocating for the division of Somalia?” Barre said, urging the diaspora to "come out and refuse” the separation of their country.

PHOTO: According to Hamza, around 50 people from UK were present at the gathering where the threats were made.

In a follow-up statement, he added, "It is astonishing that the Somali diaspora has not spoken out or opposed the attempt by some UK Parliament members to campaign for secession.”

"Those of you here who came from the UK, raise your hands,” Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre asked the audience attending the event held in Mogadishu on July 22.

According to Hamza, around 50 people from UK were present at the gathering.

These include agents working for the Somali state, sources at the Mogadishu government said.

"You, as Somalis—more than 50 of you raised your hands—yet some UK MPs stand up day after day calling for the division of Somalia. Where are you then?” he added.

Soon after his remarks, alarming social media posts began circulating, including one showing an image of Sir Gavin Williamson with the caption: "We are coming for you Sir Gavin Williamson.”

The posts, reportedly from diaspora-linked accounts, have triggered fears of potential threats to the MP’s safety.

Sir Gavin, a former UK Secretary of State for Defence, is a vocal supporter of Somaliland’s recognition as an independent state and has urged the UK government to recognise the breakaway region as an independent country.

Security analysts warn that the Prime Minister’s statements may be interpreted as incitement and could have legal and diplomatic repercussions.

"If the call for action by Somalia’s Prime Minister is considered carefully, it could amount to a serious security threat and demands British authorities to thoroughly investigate,” said Abdirahman Hussein, a Somali security analyst.

The fear, according to security sources, is that the sleeping cells in UK who work for Somalia or other criminal networks such as Iran-linked groups could involve.

The Somali Prime Minister, has previously made deeply inflammatory and antisemitic statements.

During an event in Mogadishu in November 2023, Barre described Israelis and Jews as "children of pigs and monkeys”, called the militant group Hamas a "liberation movement", and urged resistance in terminology paralleling calls for warfare—provoking widespread condemnation.

Barre himself has roots in Islah, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood to which Hamas is an affiliate.

The development comes as the UK enforces its new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), effective from 1 July 2025 under the National Security Act 2023, requiring individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments to register their activities.

Despite this, dozens of British-Somali dual nationals are believed to be working with the Somali government—some possibly linked to security services—without declaring their roles to UK authorities.

Under FIRS, such undeclared involvement may constitute working for a foreign intelligence body, which is a criminal offense in the UK.