Somalia’s semiautonomous region of Puntland held a state funeral for its founding father and ex-President Mohamed Abdi Hashi.
Hashi passed on over the weekend in Nairobi. His body was then transported back to Garowe, his place of birth, for a state burial.
Senior leaders from all over Somalia attended Thursday’s burial.
Hashi’s casket, which was wrapped in Puntland’s flag, was carried by senior military officers on their shoulders.
Meanwhile, thousands of mourners from various backgrounds watched the ceremony from the sidelines.
Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni was at the event too.
Earlier in the day, Galmudug’s President Ahmed Kariye Qoorqoor and Jubbaland’s President Ahmed Madobe arrived in Garowe for the ceremony.
The two leaders, together with President Deni, had traveled from Dhusamareb where all the five regional leaders are holding talks on the upcoming elections in Somalia.
Initial reports that Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire was to attend the funeral ceremony were proven untrue as he failed to show up.
Instead, reports emerged indicating that he was expected at the burial of ex-Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah, who died in Turkey, and is being buried in today too.