Thousands of residents of Puntland’s administrative capital Garowe put a halt to their normal activities to give a historic reception to Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo on his day one of his one week tour of the regional state.
Farmaajo landed at the Garowe Airport on Sunday and was received by Puntland President Abdiweli Gaas, state ministers and traditional elders.
He later walked on the streets of Garowe to acknowledge the big reception accorded by the people of the regional state shaking hands with the locals.
“I have come here to see what is going on in Puntland and to work for peace and reconciliation” Farmaajo tweeted.
“I intend to visit towns of Puntland.I will meet elders, the elite and university students” he added .
Security was beefed up in Garowe and the Somali flags flew along it’s main streets.
“We are happy to see our president in Puntland. This is the largest reception I have ever seen” Abdi Shire a Garowe resident told Radio Dalsan.
Abdiweli Gaas and Farmaajo have in the past shared a warm relation and personal friendship.
This is the first official visit of Puntland by Farmaajo since taking office in February 2017.
