New Somali president tests positive for COVID-19

President Mohamud returned to Somalia on Friday from a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, former Somali President and candidate for the 2022 presidential elections, is seen throughout the first spherical of voting in Mogadishu, Somalia. Could 15, 2022 [File: Feisal Omar/Reuters]

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says he has examined constructive for COVID-19 and was in self-isolation.

“My fellow residents, I want to inform you that at present I examined constructive for COVID-19. To date, I've no signs however I'll proceed to self-isolate and serve the individuals of #Somalia from residence,” he stated on Friday on his Twitter account.

Abdikarim Ali Kaar, Mohamud’s spokesperson, stated the president had returned to Somalia on Friday from a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The official Somali president’s Twitter account exhibits a video of him assembly the president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with each males sporting masks, dated June 22. He additionally met Somalis primarily based within the UAE.

Somalia has thus far registered 26,748 COVID-19 circumstances and 1,361 deaths, in accordance with a tally from its well being ministry.

Mohamud took workplace in Could after successful the presidential vote for the second time, having beforehand served from 2012 to 2017.