The order of expulsion of the Mozambican diplomat in Somalia, Francisco Madeira, is said to have surprised the Mozambican diplomacy, and that is why the Mozambican Foreign Affairs Minister, Verónica Macamo, said she did not understand the decision of the Somali government.

"We don't understand what happened, but we are consoled" said Macamo referring to the annulment of the decision by Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

The Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, considered the Mozambican representative of the African Union (AU) in Somalia as "persona non grata", so he issued an expulsion order, annulled by the Somali President.

It should be noted that the Somali President and the local Prime Minister are political rivals and are in constant rifts.

"Ambassador Madeira is a career ambassador who, because of his knowledge, capacity, and experience, was appointed by the AU to represent the organization within the scope of the [mission of] unity and pacification. This is the role he is performing," Macamo stressed, in what was the first reaction from a Mozambican leader after what happened.

On April 08, AU President Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed concern over the decision of the Somali Prime Minister. He welcomed, however, the position of the Somali President, who opposed that of the prime minister.

The Somali head of state regretted the decision of the Mogadishu government and reiterated his commitment to continue cooperating with the AU Transitional Mission in Somalia.

In November, the Somali government expelled the AU's deputy special representative, Simon Mulongo, and earlier, in January 2019, the UN special envoy, Nicholas Haysom, had been expelled for alleged "violation of protocols" and "interference in Somalia's internal affairs.