Somali police announce curfew in capital during presidential vote

Police in Somalia have announced a 33-hour curfew on the capital Mogadishu that will keep almost all residents at home during Sunday's presidential election by lawmakers.

Police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden announced at a press conference on Saturday a full curfew in the city, covering both traffic and people, from Saturday at 1800 GMT (9:00 PM) until Monday at 6:00 AM.

Lawmakers, security personnel and all others officials involved in the vote are still free to move during those hours.

The indirect election, in which lawmakers will pick a president, will take place in an airport hangar behind blast walls to help fend off potential attacks or meddling by factions within the security services.

Incumbent leader Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is seeking a second term in the election.

READ MORE: Somalia again misses deadline to complete elections for lower house

A daunting list of challenges

Mohamed is facing 37 opponents in the vote, including two former presidents, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who analysts see as the frontrunners.

Originally they were 39, but between Thursday and Friday two candidates announced they were exiting the race.

Polls are due to commence early on Sunday and are expected to proceed late into the night amid a volatile security atmosphere in which police fear the armed Al Shabab group could seek to carry out attacks to disrupt the event.

The Al Shabab attacks have gripped Somalia for more than a decade.

Al Shabab says it wants to topple the Horn of Africa country's central government and establish its own rule.

Somalia's next leader will inherit a daunting list of challenges, including the worst drought in 40 years, a violent conflict entering its fourth decade, clan feuds, and a power struggle between the government and federal member states.

READ MORE: Somalia's political wrangling raises the spectre of violence