MOGADISHU, Somalia – The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Thursday left for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, flying from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The president is scheduled to attend the summit of the Arab League and the African Union which will open in Riyadh in the coming hours, according to multi-diplomatic sources.
The latest reports say the president’s delegation arrived in Riyadh on Thursday evening.
The head of state underwent a minor surgery on his shoulder, and he is recovering well from the medical operation, said the presidency in a statement released on Thursday.
The Somali President Hassan Sheikh will return to the country to resume the coordination of the fight against the Al-Shabaab group, a main task that he gave the first priority.
Mohamud relocated from the capital Mogadishu to Dhusamareb, Galmudug state capital mobilize the local forces and boost the morale of the armed forces in the frontline state.
The Al-Qaeda-linked militant group has increased attacks since the Somali president, who was elected for a second term last year, declared an “all-out war” on al-Shabaab.
The long-chaotic Horn of Africa country has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS groups.
