GALKAYO (Somaliguardian) – A barrage of mortar shells has hit a compound where Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Galmudug regional officials have been meeting on Monday night in the town of Dhusamareb.
Somali president, his prime minister and regional leaders arrived in the town on Monday for talks over ending a long-standing electoral dispute.
Hours following the arrival of the delegations, nearly 10 mortar bombs rained down on Dhusamareb targeting the town’s presidential palace, police station and the airport.
None of the mortar shells exploded inside the presidential compound, a regional official has told Somaliguardian, saying that the attack triggered confusion inside the regional president’s residence where a meeting was underway.
Casualties have not been immediately known and local authorities have yet to brief media about the assault.
Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab said it had carried out the mortar attack, saying president Farmajo was the target of the attack.
Meeting between Somali federal and regional leaders is scheduled to open in Dhusamareb on Tuesday during which they will discuss ways to bring an end to the differences over upcoming elections, with only a few days to go before the incumbent president’s term expires.
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