COVID-19

The Somali government on Monday confirmed the death of its ambassador to Egypt, Abdikani Mohamed Wa’ays. The Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the diplomat for his service to the nation. The confirmation was mute on the cause of death. A privately-owned portal, Garowe Online, disclosed that the ambassador had succumbed to COVID-19 in Kuwait after he was admitted to a health facility for a week. He tested positive for the virus at the facility, Garowe’s sources confirmed. Prime Minister Hassan Khaire mourned the late diplomat and termed him a dedicated servant to his country. Sources said the long-serving diplomat had been battling diabetes for a long time. The veteran diplomat served in various capacities in the foreign affairs docket since the 1970s. We will remember his long service to the country. May Allah have mercy on him,” the PM said. He doubled as Somalia’s envoy to the Arab League which is based in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. He had served in different portfolios before his last deployment. The diplomat is said to have been suffering from diabetes. He joins a list of Somalis who have been lost to the virus; among them are Khalif Mumin Tohow, a regional state official who died in Mogadishu; ex-Prime Minister Nur Adde and music icon Ahmed Ismail Hussein – both of whom died in the UK. "My deepest condolences to the Somali people and the family of our ambassador to Egypt and the Arab League. The former prime minister succumbed to the disease in London last month