GALKAYO (SD) – Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali described last night’s clashes in Galkayo as an attempt to assassinate him.

The minister said troops under the command of the Mudug regional police commander raided a place where he and Chief Yassin Abdisamad were having iftar.

“I arrived in Galkacyo yesterday to spend time with my family in the last days of the Holy month of Ramadan. This evening, my family and I were having iftar hosted by Nabadon Yasin Abdisamad. We left our house on foot with four security guards and two plain clothes officers.” the minister Tweeted.

According to the minister, his bodyguards had foiled a political assassination attempt on him.

“Our security team foiled the politically motivated assassination attempt. Unfortunately, one soldier has sadly been killed, Allaha u naxariisto, with another injured. Nabadoon has also been seriously wounded and is currently in hospital. We wish them a swift recovery.” the minster confirmed in a Tweet.

Police in Mudug region, however, reportedly went to the scene to stop a politically motivated meeting, but was later confirmed that the gathering was limited to iftar.

Police also took the step after a meeting of the state security committee said that no political meetings could be held without permission.