Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who is on official tour to Puntland, has paid a visit to refugee camps and other area regional government institutions in Garowe town.

Leading a group of senior TFG and regional leaders including Prime minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Puntland president Abdirahmand Mohamed Mohamud Farole, and other dignitaries from Puntland, the president visited an IDP camp in the area hosting drought and famine displaced families.

At the camp, the president was briefed on the plight of the IDPs and later addressed the displaced people in the camp.

The president also visited the main hospital in Garowe where he sought the conditions of patient in the hospital as well as Puntland’s education ministry headquarters where he was welcomed by ministry officials.

The president was also taken round to Garowe streets where he was received by jovial mammoth crowds waving the Somali and their regional flags.

President sharif and the United Nations special envoy to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, are expected today to hold talks with the host Puntland president Abdirahman Farole and discuss thorny issues like the highly awaited consultative meeting scheduled to kick off in Mogadishu earlier on September.

By Rooble Dirir