MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s security forces have opened fire on the convoy of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday afternoon in an “assassination attempt” coming weeks after election deal ended months-long political crisis.
Former president’s vehicle was fired on near a security checkpoint in Hamarwayne district as he was returning from a conference at seaside hotel in a nearby neighborhood.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ordered his bodyguards to exercise restraint due to fear that the “provocation” might morph into a running battle, his close associates have told Somaliguardian.
The well-known politician escaped the assault, which is the third by security forces to target him in the capital in just three months since outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term expired in February.
A senior opposition figure, who was traveling with him at the time said the prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble “must investigate the assassination attempt against ex president” and described the gun attack as an “unacceptable provocation”. He did not say whether there were casualties from the incident.
It comes a few weeks after Somali prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and regional presidents reached an agreement to hold elections within two months, bringing an end to months-long political crisis.
Some of the opposition figures earlier voiced concerns that Farmajo might disrupt the elections after transferring responsibility for the electoral process to his prime minister.
The government has not immediately commented on the attack.
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