​Somalia: Slain Minister of Public Works laid to rest in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The body of the slain Minister of Public works and Reconstruction Abbas Abdullahi Siraj, was laid to rest in the capital Mogadishu in a state funeral on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Parliament speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, attended the funeral of late Siraj which was performed in a mosque at the Presidential Palace "Villa Somalia".

His body was then taken to a cemetery in the Medina hospital in Mogadishu, where he was laid to rest, with the attendance of Prime MInister Hassan Ali Khayre, cabinet ministers, lawmakers and family members.

Somali Government leaders sent heartfelt condolences to the family and people of Somalia at large on the death of the official and urged Police to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to the justice.

PM Khayre said he is deeply saddened by the devastating death of Minister Siraj and passionately grieving with his family as they pass through this difficult time. President Farmajo cut short his state visit to Ethiopia and returned home, to mourn the death of Siraj.

The official was killed on Wednesday evening when his car was mistakenly shot at by the security guards of the Auditor General near Villa Somalia.

An investigation is now underway as some of the bodyguards were arrested by the security forces.

Siraj was born in Afmadow in 1986, but grew up and was educated in Dadaab camp, the world's largest refugee camps in Kenya. He was elected as lawmaker from Jubbaland, last year and appointed as Minister of Public works in last February.

 GAROWEONLINE