Residents of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, voted on Thursday in municipal elections aimed at paving the way for the East African country's first direct national polls in over half a century.

The vote in Mogadishu, a city of some three million people where security conditions have improved in recent years despite continuing attacks by al-Qaeda–linked al-Shabab militants, is seen as a test run for direct elections at the national level.

Around 1,605 candidates are running for 390 posts in Mogadishu's district councils, said Abdishakur Abib Hayir, a member of the National Electoral Commission. Council members will then choose a mayor.

"It shows Somalia is standing on its feet and moving forward," Hayir told Reuters. "After the local election, elections can and will take place in the entire country."

Residents waiting to vote formed long lines outside polling stations early in the morning, a Reuters witness said.

The streets were closed to vehicle traffic, and the airport, port and businesses remained closed.

The electoral commission said about 10,000 security personnel were deployed at polling stations.

"This is my first time to vote. I am very happy, and I came here early in the morning, walking with other mothers," Addey Isak Abdi told Reuters.

A 2024 law restored universal suffrage ahead of federal elections expected next year. However, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reached a deal in August with some opposition leaders stipulating that while lawmakers would be directly elected in 2026, the president would still be chosen by parliament.