Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has formally raised serious concerns with Somalia’s Federal Government over the unexplained disappearance of nine members of an official Somali delegation that visited Pristina from October 25 to 28, 2026.
In a diplomatic Note Verbale dated October 30, obtained by local media, Kosovo confirmed that the delegation arrived at Pristina International Airport on October 25 at 19:45 aboard a Turkish Airlines flight.
The delegation was led by Somalia’s State Minister of Public Works and Housing, Said Mohamed Mohamud, and Deputy Minister of Ports, Fartun Abdikadir Farah.
According to the diplomatic communication, nine accompanying delegation members checked out of Dua Village accommodation at approximately 19:10 on October 27 without notifying the Kosovo authorities responsible for their visit.
Preliminary inquiries suggested that the individuals may have travelled to another location within Kosovo.
However, they failed to appear for their scheduled departure through the VIP terminal at Pristina International Airport on October 28.
Kosovo confirmed that both Somali ministers departed the country on October 28, while the nine individuals remained unaccounted for.
The ministry stated that it had no verified information regarding their whereabouts, immigration status, safety, or whether they had left Kosovo.
Kosovo has formally requested urgent cooperation from Mogadishu to establish their whereabouts and ensure their safety.
Meanwhile, separate media reports allege that the individuals may have travelled to other European countries to seek asylum.
Reports have also linked the controversy to the alleged sale of visas and the inclusion of individuals falsely presented as government employees in the official delegation.
Two Somali federal officials have reportedly been dismissed in connection with the controversy
The incident has raised questions about the integrity of Somalia’s official diplomatic travel arrangements and possible misuse of government delegations.
The diplomatic letter confirms Kosovo’s concerns over the nine missing individuals but does not establish that visa trafficking occurred or that the individuals sought asylum abroad.
According to the information recorded by the State Protocol, the nine accompanying members for whom clarification is being sought
The Ministry clarifies for the official record that Mr. Mursal Hosh Abdille, whose name appeared on the delegation list previously communicated for entry facilitation, did not travel to the Republic of Kosovo as part of this delegation.
On 28 October 2026, during preparations for the continuation of the programme and the delegation’s transfer to the airport, as previously scheduled, the State Protocol was informed that the nine individuals concerned had checked out of their accommodation at Dua Village on the evening of 27 October, at approximately 19:10, without prior notification to the authorities responsible for accompanying them.
Preliminary inquiries indicate that the individuals departed the accommodation premises independently and may have transited toward another location within Kosovo. However, this information does not constitute confirmation of their subsequent whereabouts.
Despite the efforts undertaken by the State Protocol to obtain clarification through communication with the senior representatives of the delegation, no concrete information regarding the whereabouts of the nine individuals has been obtained.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora confirms that Minister Said Mohamed Mohamuud departed the Republic of Kosovo in the early hours of 28 October, while Deputy Minister Fartun Abdikadir Farah departed in accordance with the scheduled itinerary on the evening of the same day.
However, the aforementioned nine members did not present themselves for departure in accordance with the planned arrangements through the VIP Terminal of Prishtina International Airport and, as of the drafting of this Note Verbale, the Ministry has no confirmed information concerning their whereabouts, residence status, or possible departure from the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo expresses its serious concern regarding the lack of information about the whereabouts of the nine members of the Somali delegation, as well as the failure to notify the competent authorities of the Republic of Kosovo of changes to their stay and departure arrangements, as established within the framework of the visit.
