Somali envoy to Egypt, Arab league dies of COVID-19

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Somali Ambassador to Egypt and Arab league Abdiqani Mohamed Wa'ays died due to the coronavirus, officials said on Sunday.

Ismail Mukhtar Oronjo, a Somali government spokesman, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the ambassador, who had diabetes, contracted the virus and died in Kuwait.

In a statement, Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre also confirmed the envoy's death and said: "My deepest condolences to the Somali people and the family of our ambassador to Egypt and the Arab League, Ambassador Abdiqani Mohamad Wa'ays. We will remember him his long service to the country. May Allah have mercy on him."

Somali Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 57 new coronavirus cases in the country over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 1,054. The death toll in Somalia stood at 51, with a total of 118 recoveries.