Jubbaland was headed for the ballot box on 22 August to decide whether incumbent President Ahmed Mohamed Madobe, an ally of neighbouring Kenya, will serve a second term or select one of 13 contending candidates for the top job.
Approaches to the southernmost semi-autonomous Somali state capital Kismayo were closed ahead of polling as calls from the United Nations, European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development and the African Union to improve the process and accept observers were rebuffed.
