Somalia's enlarged parliament elects a new president Friday to tackle the daunting task of bringing peace and stability to a country torn apart by violence and anarchy for nearly two decades. The Horn of Africa nation has had no central government since dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted in 1991. It is grappling with Islamist insurgents fighting for power and a food crisis which has left a third of the population reliant on aid.
There are 14 candidates running in the election, being held in neighbouring Djibouti because the lack of security at home has scuppered hopes parliament could assemble there, reported Reuters.
The president will be chosen by a new, expanded assembly which includes moderate Islamist opponents sworn in this week at the U.N.-brokered peace process in Djibouti.
The election is due to start at 1200 GMT and a series of ballots will whittle the field down to two for the final vote.
Candidates include Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, the moderate Islamist leader from the Islamist Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) and an array of current and former politicians, former warlords and members of the diaspora.
Hussein and Sheik Sharif Ahmed from the ARS are generally seen as the frontrunners in a vote which may well be determined by the shifting clan alliances which pervade Somali politics.
International players see the more inclusive administration as an important step toward reaching out to opposition groups and hardline fighters who have shunned reconciliation so far.
But the government controls little more than a few blocks of the capital Mogadishu, held by African peacekeeping troops, and Islamist insurgents captured the seat of parliament this week.
Clashes between rival Islamists Thursday killed more than 30 people and a hardline group on Washington's list of foreign terrorists has vowed to fight until it has imposed its strict version of Islamic law throughout Somalia.
Many Somalis were skeptical of the Djibouti process.
"I do not think a peaceful Somali government will come out from Djibouti," said Mogadishu mechanic Mohamed Abdulle, 35.
"The international community is electing a Somali president of their choice ... just like (President) Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. If Sharif loses, he will rejoin the chaotic Islamists. And if he wins, he will have many enemies."
Another resident, Farah Ismail, was also pessimistic.
"I do not think Somalis will get an inclusive government, there will always be opponents," he said.
"If Sharif loses, he will rejoin the chaotic Islamists. And if he wins, he will have many enemies."
Another resident, Farah Ismail, was also pessimistic.
"I am sure the Djibouti election will lead to more chaos because it is swift and half-baked.," he said.
Addressing parliament on Thursday, most candidates billed security as their top priority. Some wanted a strong army, some pledged to strengthen the role of Islam in government, and others said ditching the clan system was the only way out.
Important for lasting peace will be bringing in or neutralizing the hardline Islamist wing of the ARS, led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and based in Eritrea.
In the short term, the government will have to confront the hardline fighters of al Shabaab who control much of the south and center of Somalia, and are threatening the capital.
A Sunni Islamist group fighting al Shabaab called Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca said on Friday it would support the new government, provided the new president sought peace.
"Ahlu Sunna and all Somalis are in dire need of a peaceful government save Al shabaab who will say 'No' to every positive step" Sheikh Abdullahi Sheikh Abu Yusuf, Ahul Sunna spokesman, told Reuters.