MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Mogadishu airport staff member says mortar shells were fired toward the airport as a plane carrying a U.S. congressman took off safely from the Somali capital.
An airport staff member reached by telephone at the control tower says the plane carrying New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne took off safely Monday. He says none of the six mortar shells fired landed in the airport. The airport staffer refused to give his full name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Payne met with Somalia’s president and prime minister during his one-day visit to Mogadishu on Monday. They discussed piracy, security and cooperation between Somalia and the United States. Payne is chairman of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa.
Uhhh ooohh!
This is not good. This happened while the Congressman was finishing a one-day tour of Somalia after meeting with President and PM, and the tour was meant to signify the Congressman’s support for the democratic setup.
Some individuals/groups are suspected of this act, who are against the PM of Somalia. He is described as a moderate, who had vowed to bring stability to the country and stop the extremists taking advantage of the chaos.
Any repercussions of this? Do you see something big brewing?