Multiple mortars hit near Somalia’s Presidential Palace ahead of regional security summit

Feb. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Several mortar shells hit this Wednesday around the Somali Presidential Palace in the country’s capital, Mogadishu, hours before the start of a summit of regional leaders to address the military offensive against the terrorist group Al Shabaab.

According to information collected by the Somali news portal Jowhar, a total of five projectiles have hit the area, with no information on casualties or material damage for the moment.

The attack took place shortly after the arrival in Mogadishu of the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti ahead of the summit, which has led the Somali authorities to strengthen security in and around the capital.

Somalia has increased offensives against Al Shabaab in recent months with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who promised upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.