As severe drought continues to ravage the African country of Somalia presided upon by Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Somalis gathered today in the capital, Mogadishu, to pray for rain.

According to Ceoafrica, Prime Minister Ali Hassan Kheyre was present at the event, held at the Isbaheysiga mosque, which was also attended by many residents and Islamic scholars.

In his remarks Mr Kheyre asked for divine intervention "to lift the drought burden from the Somali people".

His official Twitter account shared pictures of the event and a prayer: "I pray to God to bring rain to the people who have been affected by the drought".

He also called on Somalis to help each other and join hands to overcome the drought situation.

The scholars who addressed the gathering asked "God to lift the burden of drought from the Somali people", and also asked the Somali public "to pray more to God and repent to Him".

Millions of Somalis face the risk of starvation due to a severe drought that has hit the country. The United Nations has warned that the country is on the brink of famine.

President Mohamed has declared the drought a national disaster and urged aid agencies to quickly respond to the country's humanitarian needs.

In 2011, the United Nations estimated that nearly 260,000 people died as a result of famine in Somalia.