Somalia’s presidential palace comes under mortar attack

A number of mortar shells landed at the gate of Somalia’s presidential palace ahead of a visit by the leaders of Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya, Report informs, citing Somali Guardian.

It comes after security forces closed the main roads in Mogadishu. Casualties have not been immediately known.

Somalia’s government said on Tuesday it would ask Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti to join an ongoing military offensive in the war-torn Horn of Africa country’s southern and central regions.

In a statement by the Ministry of Defense, the federal government said it would urge the frontline East African countries to deploy their non-ATMIS troops to participate in the ongoing operations aimed at driving Al-Shabaab from key towns in southern Somalia.