Officials said that presidential candidate and former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud survived and called the attack "unacceptable provocation against the president”  while calling the Somali prime minister to investigate the "assassination attempt”

"PM Mohamed Hussein Roble  must investigate the assassination attempt against the ex president  Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.” Abdirizak Mohamed, A lawmaker and former Minister of Internal Security who was accompanying the former president during the attack said on twitter, " This happened 40 minutes ago. I myself was traveling with the president along with former chief of NISA Sanbaloolshe. This is unacceptable provocation against the president”

Somalia’s justice minister Abdulkadir Muhammad Nur apologized to the former head of state shortly after  the attack and termed it ‘accidental’ and ‘unintentional’, However, Somalia’s prisons commandant Mahad Adan on the contrary dismissed reports that his men fired at the convoy of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud noting instead the former president’s guards opened.

In a press briefing in Mogadishu, the Custodial Chief told journalists his forces were acting in self-defence and warned against ‘intimidation of my forces, raising credible questions about the motive behind the attack. The prisons boss who has on several occasions in the past openly defended controversial measures by security forces said his forces had a ‘national duty’ and would respond accordingly in case of future threats. 

Abdirashid Hashi,  former executive director of Heritage Institute called on the government to end the impunity surrounding firing at people including politicians must end & perpetrators should be prosecuted.

"This is serious matter & impunity surrounding firing at people including politicians must end & perpetrators should be prosecuted. The relentless targeted attacks, harassments of Prez Hassan  Sheikh Mohamud. Abdirashid Hashi, former Executive Director of Heritage institute, a local think tank group said on twitter, "In the past 4 years were too numerous to be explained away as random incidents.”

The presidential candidate and former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has several times survived attempts on his life.  In February government forces allegedly stormed a hotel in downtown Mogadishu where the former president alongside his predecessor Sharif Sheikh Ahmed were staying.”

The presidential candidate and former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has several times survived attempts on his life.  In February government forces allegedly stormed a hotel in downtown Mogadishu where the former president alongside his predecessor Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was staying.