President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is Indestructible

Fresh off a new slate of health, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is facing a different set of troubles posing risks to his life.

A mortar shell exploded Sunday near Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed's plane as it was preparing to take off from Mogadishu airport, officials and witnesses said. Three shells struck the airport and one exploded near the plane just after the president boarded it and was preparing to take off, an African Union peacekeeper at the airport said on condition of anonymity.

"The president was in the plane to leave when the mortars hit the area," he said. "Fortunately, nobody was hurt."

So, we guess, despite his flair for the dramatics, Ahmed remains a plane, old guy.

[AFP]

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Transitions Out of Hospital

The Internet may have died this week in Africa but on the plus side we found out that death there isn't contagious.

The interim president of Somalia's transitional government, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, left a hospital in London Saturday night where he was receiving medical treatment in recent weeks, sources said.

The president is "very healthy and happy," according to inside sources in London.

[AllAfrica.com]

Hunger Put Somalia on the Map; Collapses Keep It There

So how about Somalia. Been a while since we heard from them, hasn't it? That's still no reason to assume the worst. Well, with Somalia you never know...

Somalia's interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, told a local radio station that his health is fine in response to widespread reports of his deteriorating health. “My health condition is fine,” President Yusuf told Radio Galkayo, a Puntland-based independent FM station. “I rushed out [of London] before because of the new Cabinet and when it was finished, I returned for a scheduled medical appointment.”

He dismissed rumors of his deteriorating health, saying: “Don’t listen to the stuff they say and when you need to know something, contact me.” Yusuf said he will be resting in London for roughly three weeks.

This all coming from a guy who collapsed last week, had bronchitis last month, and has even survived an assassination attempt.

Abdullahi Yusuf saying he's fine is like hearing someone call Somalia by its Somali name Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya. You just can't believe it.

[Garowe Online]
[New Sudan Vision]