New Somali president sets out for Saudi Arabia

ISTANBUL

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi on Thursday morning set out for Saudi Arabia for his first foreign visit since assuming office, according to Somalia’s official news agency.

Abdullahi reportedly left Mogadishu accompanied by a high-level delegation including government ministers and parliamentarians, along with national police force commander Major-General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamoud.

The visit, the duration of which has not been announced, is the first trip of its kind for the new Somali president since his election early this month.

Last week, Abdullahi received a telephone call from Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz congratulating him on his electoral victory.

Reporting by Eman Nassar; Writing by Ali H. M.Abo Rezeg