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Mogadishu is buzzing with heightened political and commercial activity as more than 35 presidential candidates have just days left to campaign before the scheduled elections on August 20th.

The candidates, who are taking part in the first presidential race in the city in more than two decades, are organising political gatherings in hotels, public squares and football fields to win votes from members of parliament.

Three senior government officials are among those vying for the presidential post: President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aadan, and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

Other candidates include familiar political figures, such as former prime ministers Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, as well as newcomers to the political arena.

After returning to Mogadishu to launch his presidential campaign, Farmajo called on the new members of parliament to choose the most qualified candidate for president. "Somalia needs new leadership and we call on the newly appointed members of parliament to choose the next president based on that individual's national vision and educational qualifications, and not for his tribal affiliation, so that the person can win the Somali people's confidence and steer the country towards a new era of peace and prosperity," he said.

Daud Makran, a political analyst who teaches at Mogadishu University, says the presidential candidates can be divided into three categories: the first group comprises people currently in power; the second, former prime ministers and politicians who held ministerial posts; and the third, people new to the political arena who have formed political parties specifically for these elections, including businessmen, academics, comedians and intellectuals.

Makran said some of the candidates are not actually aiming to win the presidential race.

"Many of these people announced their candidacy in an effort to seek fame and to obtain ministerial posts when the new government is formed," he told Sabahi.

This election marks the first time a warlord has not run among the presidential candidates, as opposed to previous transitional government elections.

Incumbents have advantage over other candidates

The president, speaker of parliament and the prime minister have an advantage over the other candidates as incumbents, but they still face serious challenges, according to political analyst Abdirahman Mohamed.

The three leaders are also signatories to the Roadmap, which has allowed them to forge regional and international relations.

"They will rely on their authority, internal and external relations, and their bank accounts to manage their presidential campaigns or to buy votes to win over members of the new parliament," Mohamed told Sabahi. "On the other hand, financial corruption as well as local and international resentment towards their performance in the past period might constitute a big challenge for them."

"Since these elections will be held in the parliament and not through direct elections where citizens can vote on who will govern them, the candidate who is able to win over the most members of parliament will be the victor in these elections," he said.

Thirteen independent candidates have formed a coalition called the National Association for Change, comprised of academics, former ministers, businessmen and independent politicians.

Parliamentarian Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, a presidential candidate and a member of the coalition, said current Transitional Federal Government leaders are using the country's financial, media, transportation and security resources for their personal presidential campaigns.

"There is no worse corruption than using public resources for election campaigns and personal interests," he told Sabahi. "Using public funds in the elections is unacceptable because these are public monies that should be in service of the public good and not for personal interests."

Warsame said the election must be free and fair, adding that no foul play should occur, including bribery and buying votes from members of parliament. "If the international community is serious about assisting Somalia in ending the transitional period, they must deter corrupt leaders that have been accused of plundering the state's coffers," he said.

According to a UN report, 70% of Transitional Federal Government (TFG) revenue has been lost through corruption, theft or waste. The report named several top Somali leaders specifically, including Ahmed, Ali and Aadan. They have denied the allegations.