MOGADISHU- Somali government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu has returned to the country on Wednesday after receiving treatment for injuries he sustained from a suicide bombing that targeted him in Mogadishu.

The veteran journalist was received at the Aden Abdulle International Airport by senior government officials and representatives from the media.

Moalimu was taken to Istanbul, Turkey for further specialized treatment after he received preliminary medication at Digfeer hospital.

Speaking to journalists at the airport Moalimu thanked the Somali government particularly Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble for facilitating for him to be transferred to Istanbul for special treatment.

The government spokesperson was on 16th January attacked by a suicide bomber wearing explosive vest who exploded himself on his vehicle on the busy Makkah Al Mukarama road in downtown Mogadishu.

Police in the capital Mogadishu told the media, a lone suicide bomber targeted the vehicle of Moalimu leaving him with injuries and killing the suicide bomber on the spot.

The attacker was killed on the spot and two other civilians got injured from the shrapnel of the blast.

Moalimu had previously escaped several attacks on hotels and other recreational facilities where he was in in the capital Mogaddishu.

Al- Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.