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The security in Mogadishu has been worsening over the past months following the increase in armed robbery by armed men in the military uniform.

The president flew to Abu Dhabi after receiving an invitation from his United Arab Emirates counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. who seeks strong and close relations with Somalia.

The ongoing attacks from Al-Shabaab militants targeting government-controlled areas show an intent to target the aviation sector. The primary risk is to overflying aircraft at the lower flight levels in the airspace.

No group claimed responsibility for the shelling but the experts say this is a politically motivated attack given the timing and the target was the airport complex, where the new president is being inaugurated.

The president’s inauguration will take place at the Afisioni hangar in the airport facility under tight security with all flights to and from Mogadishu expected to be halted until Friday, according to the sources.

On Tuesday morning, main roads in the city were locked down for the president’s visit to the ministry of defense over a fear of attack by Al-Shabaab which poses a major threat to the security of the country.

The President and Prime Minister as well as other politicians have offered their condolences on the death of the leading Somali philanthropist.

Battling al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-affiliated terror group that has stepped up its attacks in Mogadishu in recent months, is one of the biggest challenges that lie ahead for the president.

The 54-member Senate and the 275 members of parliament from the Lower House are expected to jointly elect a new president in an indirect vote in Mogadishu but no date has been set so far.

The decision was reached in consultation with the office of the PM Mohamed Hussein Roble. It becomes the second lockdown in this month on the key facility, housing western diplomatic missions.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but, local police pointed the finger of the blame at the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group, which is waging a decade-long insurgency in Somalia.

Instead, polls follow a complex indirect model, whereby state legislatures and clan delegates pick lawmakers for the national parliament, who in turn choose the president.