Puntland State president Said Abdullahi Deni has conveyed his condolences to the families of the two presidential guards who were killed in a landmine explosion at the entrance of the commercial city of Bosaso on Monday..

In a statement carried on his Facebook page, Deni described the two soldiers as dedicated duo who performed their mandate in defending and safeguarding the State against the enemy and prayed to Allah to grant them the highest rank of paradise.
“I would like to convey my condolences to the entire Presidential guard and regular forces on the death of the two soldiers who were killed today in a roadside explosion in Bosaso town and pray to Allah to admit them in paradise.” said Deni.

The two soldiers were killed and two others sustainded wounds after a landmine explosion struck their convoy which was escorting Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni in Bosaso on Monday.

Al-Shabaab militant group through its proxy media claimed responsibility for the attack saying their target was the regional leader but narrowly escaped death by a whisker.

The landmine which was a remote-controlled exploded shortly after the Puntland’s leader car passed, damaging the second bullet proof vehicle.

This comes after an attack happened on Sunday in the port city and killed two leading renowned traditional elders.

The president identified the two soldiers as Abdullahi Mohamed Shafici and Mohamed Ahmed Abdullahi.

Bosaso is set to hold parliamentary elections of the House of People of the Federal parliament of Somalia.

The town has been an epicentre of conflict in November when two rival forces clashed in the area leaving people to flee from the town.