Rahmo Mohamud Ga'al, the wife of the former President of Somalia Ali Mahdi Muhammad, has died. Ms Mohamud's death was confirmed by Ex-President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Friday afternoon, March 26.
She is alleged to have died of Covid-19 complications at a hospital in Nairobi.
Her death came two weeks after the passing on of her husband, the former Somali president Ali Mahdi Mohamed, who also died of Covid-19 related complications in Kenya.
Mohamed was the fourth president of the country and served from January 26, 1991, and until January 1997.
Ali Mahdi’s appointment in 1991 was immediately opposed by one of the leaders of the USC, General Mohamed Farah Aideed.
Somalia declared three days of mourning during which the national flag was lowered to half-staff in honor of Mohamed, who was 86.
The seaside capital was brought to a standstill, with all the main roads blocked by the army and police. The hearse was transported to a mosque where the late president’s family paid their last respects.
Mahdi was born in the Mahaday District of the Middle Shabelle region in 1939 and became a member of parliament in 1968.
In 1969 he joined the civilian parliament before the military coup.
In the 1970s Ali Mahdi turned to business and succeeded. He also worked for the Somali Ministry of Health, specifically for the Malaria Project.
