Ex-PM Galaid died of COVID-19, family says after second autopsy

The family of deceased former Prime Minister Ali Khalif Galaid has confirmed the former leader died of the COVID-19 disease putting to rest its earlier claims that he may have been poisoned.

The wife of the late leader Mariam Abdi Bihi told journalists in Mogadishu a second autopsy conducted by the Federal Government produced similar results as those by the Ethiopian government.

Gulaid’s widow said the family was satisfied with the results but also took issue with what she termed as exaggerated media reports that the deceased was killed.

A family spokesman, Mukhtar Hamid said in an interview with BBC Somali Service on Friday the circumstances surrounding Galaid’s death were suspect and called for an independent autopsy. Hamid claimed the former PM may have been poisoned.

Galaid was laid to rest in Mogadishu on Saturday.