Sheikh Muhammad Somow, the spokesman of the group, first congratulated the Somali people, wherever they may be, on the momentous election of the president of Somalia .

The spokesman sent similar greetings to Djibouti President Mr. Ismael Omar Guelleh and to the government and people of Djibouti , thanking them for hosting a reconciliation conference and Somali presidential election. He stressed that Somalis

Those who opposed it said his election as the president of Somalia was likely to plunge the country into fresh chaos. After the announcement of the results last night, sounds of gunfire could be heard in Mogadishu which was interpreted as a sign of support for his victory.

"I am very excited about the election which took place in Djibouti last night. I was hopeful that Sheikh Sharif would win, and he did. We are sending him our congratulations", said one woman who is a resident of Mogadishu .

"I am concerned that it [election result] might plunge the country into fresh clashes. This is because there are many groups who are opposed to the agreement between Sharif and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG]. I am very concerned about that. I will not say that I will support it, nor will I say I don't support it", said Muse Umar, a 65-year-old Mogadishu resident.

Some residents of Baidoa also come out in support of the election of Sheikh Sharif as president. Baidoa residents gathered in parts of the town and told the media they supported the victory of Sheikh Sharif. They said they were hopeful that he will be able to uplift the suffering that is being witnessed in the country.

The election of Sheikh Sharif was also welcomed in Jowhar and Beled Weyne, which are under the control of Islamists. Residents in these towns expressed their satisfaction with the electoral process in Djibouti .

However, the Al-Shabab and the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia [ARS] have both maintained a strong rejection of the Djibouti talks, and said they will continue the fighting until the withdrawal of African Union troops from Somalia .