Egypt called on Saturday on conflicting Somali parties to show self-restraint and adhere to peaceful means and dialogue. The Egyptian statement came a day after armed clashes broke out in Mogadishu between government troops and opponents.

The two parties exchanged gunfire in the Somali capital during a protest by oppositionists over delayed elections. Accurate figures of the casualties are yet to be released.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is seeking another term and the opposition accused him of packing regional and national electoral boards with supporters. The election was, therefore, postponed.

Egypt called on the conflicting parties “to hold free and transparent elections at the earliest opportunity that Somalis would agree upon,” a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read.

The ministry said it has been following “closely and with great concern” the political developments and violence in Mogadishu in the past two days.

“Egypt affirms its support for all political efforts meant to resolve the the current political situation in a way that achieves the aspirations of the Somalian people for security, stability, development, and the elimination of the danger of terrorism,” the statement continued.

“It also calls on all partners to support Somalia to overcome the current challenges and achieve peace and stability,” the statement added.