President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has been out of sight for the last five days and the demands for the government to provide information are growing increasingly louder. 

The lack of a clear explanation has left space for some speculation and some have gone so far as to say the leader is sick and being treated at a hospital in Germany. 

However, reliable sources have denied the speculation, saying that President Mohamud is not in Germany and is instead on vacation in Turkey.

Reports indicate the president is alone on this trip except for businessmen with whom he has planned to discuss commercial matters. 

Critics say the trip comes at a bad time, with many important issues still unresolved.

“In light of the current condition of the country, Hassan Sheikh is not the type of leader who should be taking a vacation,” one concerned citizen said.

Adding to the concern is the fact that all senior advisors and members of the presidential delegation have reportedly returned to Somalia, leaving the president alone abroad.

The last confirmed record of the president’s location was in Cairo, Egypt. He then made a surprise visit to Turkey, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after which he reportedly traveled alone to a coastal city in Turkey, leaving his delegation behind.

Observers believe officials are purposely promoting a false narrative of the president’s medical visit to Germany to confuse the public and distract from the real purpose of the president’s absence from the country.

Critics have also questioned the president’s extensive record of foreign travel since taking office, with significant sums from the national budget spent on frequent international trips. 

They believe the trips have done little to help the country and have used up money that could have gone to more urgent needs at home.

The latest leg of travel to Turkey was reportedly not publicly planned. Villa Somalia did not inform citizens about the travel itinerary or reason before the trip, which has fueled public distrust and resentment, and citizens are questioning the secrecy.

Analysts and citizens argue that the government has a responsibility to clarify the president’s status. “The safety and well-being of the president and his family is a national consideration, not a joke or something that can be hidden from citizens,” said one civic activist.