Somali national news agency SUNA reported that former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud won the presidential election, which was voted by members of the Somali parliament in the capital Mogadishu.

The agency pointed out that “Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud received 214 votes while his rival, outgoing President Mohamed Abdullah Farmajo, received 110 votes and three votes became invalid.”

And earlier, the joint committee responsible for organizing the presidential elections in Somalia reported that the number of candidates for the presidency had reached 39 people.

The committee said in a statement that 39 candidates have met the conditions necessary to run for the presidency of the country, and they will begin to appeal to the Federal Parliament (People’s Assembly and the Senate) with an explanation of their election programs and political goals.

Outgoing President Mohamed Abdullah Farmajo and two former presidents, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Ali Khairy, a former prime minister, top the list of candidates.