Somalia: ​IGAD heads of state summit opens in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia --The heads of state of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa are holding a historic summit in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, on Tuesday for the first time in 3 decades, Garowe Online reports.

The outgoing Somali president Hassan Sheikh  has officially opened the  28th extraordinary session for IGAD heads of state and governments at a hotel near Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport.

IGAD summit kicked off  with the attendance of high-ranking dignitaries, including the Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian premier Hailemariam Desalegn. The presidents of Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan are not in attendance of the summit. South Sudan conflict and Somalia's 2016 elections is expected to dominate the IGAD meeting opened in Mogadishu.

Mogadishu security was beefed up ahead of the summit, with security personnel deployed and closing of major roads in the capital for 3 consecutive days. 

IGAD heads of state meeting comes as Somalia's President term has expired in 10 September.  The country is preparing for parliamentary and presidential elections in which new elected lawmakers will choose a new president on October 30.

GAROWEONLINE