Saed Abdullahi Deni was declared winner of the first round of Somalia Presidential elections after 65 votes, beating nearly 30 candidates that registered to run in Sunday's vote.

Incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo garnered 61 votes to finish second, ahead of former Prime Miniser Hassan Ali Khaire who garnered 48 votes and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who managed 52.

The four will proceed into a second round of voting as the Horn of African nation continues its long-anticipated presidential election.

Experts had foreseen more than one round of voting, predicting touch challenges by the top candidates.

Any candidate would have own the election in the first round if they had secured two-thirds of the votes cast by the 329 legislators of the bicameral parliament.