Somalia Joins Africa in Mourning Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has extended condolences to Nigeria following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, praising his lifelong service to stability and progress in Africa’s most populous nation.

Buhari, 82, died on Sunday in London while undergoing medical treatment, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed in a statement. Flags have been ordered to fly at half-mast across Nigeria, and Vice President Kashim Shettima has been dispatched to the UK to accompany Buhari’s body home.

“I extend my deepest condolences to President Tinubu, the Government and people of Nigeria on the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari. His lifelong service and commitment to Nigeria’s progress will be remembered. May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaws,” Somalia’s President Mohamud said in a statement.

Buhari, a former army general and military ruler in the 1980s, returned to power as a civilian in 2015, making history as the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting Nigerian president. He was re-elected in 2019 and handed over power to Tinubu in May 2023.

During his presidency, Buhari prioritized national security, anti-corruption, and economic diversification. His administration led a high-profile military campaign against Boko Haram in the northeast and launched efforts to recover billions in stolen public funds.

While his government pursued large-scale infrastructure and agriculture initiatives, Buhari’s tenure was marked by economic headwinds, two recessions, and persistent insecurity in parts of the country.

Buhari remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s modern history, viewed by supporters as a symbol of discipline and national unity, and by critics as a leader whose promise of reform often fell short of expectations.

Tributes from across Africa continue to pour in, reflecting Buhari’s influence as a regional statesman. The African Union and ECOWAS are expected to issue formal statements in the coming days.

Additional reporting by Agencies