MOGADISHU (SD) – The body of the former Somali president, Ali Mahdi Mohamad has arrived back in Mogadishu after a private flight from Nairobi, where he died on Wednesday aged 83.

Mr Mohamed was Somalia’s fourth leader since the country became independent in 1960.

The President of the federal government, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hassan Roble and other delegates attended the funeral prayers.

“H.E @M_Farmaajo has led the nation in giving a heroic State send off to our Late President H.E Ali Mahdi when he joined family, relatives & citizens for national funeral prayers in #Mogadishu. The President prayed for Allah’s Mercy and Jannatul Firdows upon our deceased leader,” Villa Somalia said.

The prayers were also attended by leaders of the opposition leaders including former prime minister, Hassan Ali Kheire and former Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

He will be buried today in Towfiq neighbourhood after a state funeral.

Mr Mohamed who was born at Addow-Guul village in Middle Shabelle region in 1938 was schooled in Mogadishu before he went for further studies in Egypt in 1959.

In 1968, Mohamed was elected to Somali National Assembly where he served until the country’s military overthrew the civilian government and abolished the constitution in October 1969.

Following the fall of the government led by military government led by Mohamed Siyad Barre in199, Mohamed became the fourth President of Somalia and served the nation from January 26, 1991, until January 1997.