The Somali parliament will not be able to elect a president on Monday as expected, an official said, but expressed hope the delay would only be temporary, reported dpa.
Sultan al-Farahseed, spokesman for the current President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, said parliament would be sworn in later in the day - but members would not be in a position to elect the next leader of the war-torn country.
"They have to go through the rules and regulations of the election process before they actually take part. We are doing everything to make sure this happens as soon as possible," said al-Farahseed.
The parliament - with a lower house of 275 members and an upper house of 54 lawmakers - was appointed by tribal elders and vetted by a selection committee.
Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is considered the favourite to win another term, though his administration has been accused of rampant corruption by the United Nations, the main backer of his government.
However, whoever ends up as president would head an administration which only controls the capital Mogadishu and some outlaying areas.
Most of the south and central regions remain under the control of Islamist group al-Shabaab, while the northern regions have fallen under the control of rulers seeking varying levels of autonomy.
Some areas in the north are loyal to the central government and the idea of a federal state, while Somaliland is demanding full sovereignty.