April 13: U.S. congressman Donald Payne arrives at the airport in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. Somali insurgents reportedly fired mortars toward Payne as he was leaving the country Monday.

Somali insurgents fire mortars toward U.S. Congressman Donald Payne during a visit to the Somali capital, Reuters reported.
“One mortar landed at the airport when Payne’s plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no one was hurt,” Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters.

The New Jersey congressman arrived early Monday is what is believed to be the first visit by a senior U.S. politician to Mogadishu in years, Reuters reported.

The visit was expected to last a few hours and would include Payne meeting with the Somali foreign minister to talk about piracy and how the U.S. could help the government there.

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