After a night of mortar shelling, Djibouti's Guelleh visits Mogadishu

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After a night of mortar shelling, Djibouti's Guelleh visits Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, is under total lockdown on Wednesday as the Djibouti dictator, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is visiting the war-torn capital.

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Djibouti president, Ismail Omar Guelleh visits Mogadishu on Wednesday amid a total lockdown in the capital.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, is under total lockdown on Wednesday as the Djibouti dictator, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is visiting the war-torn capital.

Guelleh's visit comes following a night of terror in Mogadishu. According to local media reports, several mortar shelling hit residential buildings in Wardhigley and Bondhere districts which are close to the presidential palace. At least two civilians were injured, according to paramedics.

Ismail Omar Guelleh, one of the richest presidents in all of Africa, has arrived midday at the Mogadishu airport. Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and prime minister Hamza Abdi Barre received him at the Aden Adde International Airport.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen suspending all incoming and outgoing flights - including international couriers to the capital city.

Attending an event held near the presidential palace, President Hassan Sheikh stated that he invited President Guelleh to inaugurate the new Somali language academy building funded by the Djiboutian president.

Thousands of heavily armed security forces were seen on the streets of the capital since dawn on Tuesday. The city's main roads were blocked denying access for both pedestrians and public transport. The Mogadishu business community said their businesses remain closed on Wednesday.

It is estimated that three million residents living in the war-torn capital city were affected by the lockdown.

Local media reported some residents saying they were not allowed to walk on the streets, accusing the government their lives were affected because of one man [Djiboutian president]. Around half million of the city's residents who are internally displaced families and live in the large concentration camps are also affected.

According to United Nations and the World Bank, 43% of the total population were estimated to be living in extreme poverty (defined as US$1 per day in PPP).

Security officials and the government are yet to comment on the closure of roads in the capital Mogadishu.