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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.

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.

Since the U.S. forces were pulled out of the country last year under the order of former President Donald Trump, there have been fewer airstrikes in the country.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, but police pointed the finger of the blame at Al-Shabaab, which is fighting against the UN-backed Somali government.

These lawmakers will now vote for a new president on Sunday, with incumbent Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, two of his predecessors, and an ex-prime minister among more than a dozen hopefuls.

Most of the hopefuls are from the opposition who want to unseat the incumbent who stayed in power beyond his four-year mandate after 15 months of illegal extension that led to street clashes in 2021.

Deni's slim plan, however, is to back either former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud or Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, whoever comes forward in the second round of the voting, to get the PM post.

The presidential candidates have been informed that they will leave their security escorts at Halane’s Madina gate, where VIP cars will be ready to take them to the Afisyoni hangar under AU troops’ protection.

According to a joint parliamentary committee tasked with organizing the election, the registration began on Sunday and will go on until Tuesday to give a chance to the remaining candidates, including Said Deni.