The fifth annual Mogadishu Book Fair has kicked off in Mogadishu
Hundreds of Somalis mainly students from Universities gathered at the venue of the event near Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesdays.
Various government officials attended the opening ceremony including the acting Mayor of Mogadishu, Ibrahim Omar Mahadle and State Minister for Education, Abbdirahman Jabiri who officially opened the occasion on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guled.
Speaking during the event, the founder of the Mogadishu Book Fair, Mohamed Diini thanked the participants for their commitment and urged them to take advantage of the panel of discussions, various books and reading materials showcased at the fair.
Various Somali authors together with multinational writers were invited to the event this year.
They include, Panashe Chigumadzi from South Africa and Nanjala Nyabola from Kenya.
Apart from Books exhibition there is also tent for children story telling.
Many people see the three-day event as shift from political environment in the country.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is scheduled to grace the event on the Friday.
