Incumbent prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali who garnered 30 votes during the first round of the election and another candidate Abdikadir Osoble Ali gave up the race.

The remaining contenders are the sitting president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his main rival Hassan Sheikh Mohammoud. Ahmed got 64 votes during the first round while Mohammoud secured 60 votes.

Prime Minister Ali urged electorates (MPs) to vote for change as Somali is taking a significant step forward in overcoming its two decades old conflict.

During this round, the winner will be selected by a simple majority.

Today’s election is the first in two decades for Somalia election to take place on Somali soil, a sign that many Somalis and the international community attribute it to the military gains made by the Somali and African Union force in the capital, Mogadishu.