On Monday, the UK's minister for Africa congratulated Mohamud, who ruled Somalia between 2012 and 2017 and is the first president to win a second term in the troubled Horn of Africa nation.

The election was contested by 36 candidates, with Hassan Sheikh and Farmajo advanced to the third round after no candidate garnered 220 votes in the second round to win the race.

The police on Saturday imposed a curfew starting in the evening ahead of the elections which will be contested by 39 presidential candidates.

By the end of Sunday, Somalis should know who their next president is, but this long-delayed vote only involves the country's 329 MPs and takes place in a heavily fortified area inside Mogadishu's Airport. 

Ahead of the vote, Somalia's government announced a full curfew in the capital, Mogadishu, covering traffic and people, from Saturday at 9 pm (18:00 GMT) until Monday at 6 am (03:00 GMT).

Sunday’s presidential election will be contested by 37 candidates after two candidates withdrew from the race in support of Abdirahman Abdishakur, the former planning minister contesting the top seat.

The vote is expected to draw a line under a political crisis that has lasted well over a year, after Farmajo attempted to extend his rule by decree, triggering violent street battles as rival factions clashed in the capital Mogadishu.

Somalia's election has been delayed repeatedly, putting a three-year $400 million International Monetary Fund (IMF) support program at risk, as the president and prime minister traded accusations of trying to derail the process.

Abdikarim Muse “Qalbi-Dhagah” lands for the first time in Mogadishu since his 'illegal extradition' to Ethiopia by Hassan Ali Khaire's led government. 

The shelling is part of an ongoing military escalation in the region near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which had been the ground for frequent battles between Al-Shabaab and the Somali army since last year.

The Candidates include outgoing President Farmajo, who faces stiff competition for re-election from former presidents Hassan Sheikh and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as well as leading opposition contenders.

It was not clear how many militants were killed during the latest fighting in Sabid village, which is located about 40 km southwest of Mogadishu from militants.