LEWISTON — A local man, one of 25 candidates for president of Somalia, had the opportunity to address his country during the weekend election process.

And although Said Mohamud was beaten Monday by another political newcomer, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, his family in Lewiston said he was proud to be part of the first election held in his homeland since civil war erupted there more than 20 years ago.

“He’s happy with the man who was elected,” said Mohamud’s wife, Shukri Abasheikh. “We wish he will be a good leader and our country will be at peace.”

Sitting with her daughter inside her business, the Mogadishu Store on Lisbon Street, the mother of eight said she has been very busy since her husband left in April to return to his homeland. Mohamud founded the People Party of Somalia in an effort run in the first elections since 1991 when he and his family fled the war-torn country for Maine.

Abasheikh said Mohamud was one of just 25 candidates who was able to address the nation during a public broadcast carried over television, radio and Internet. She said all the candidates were each given about half an hour to address the nation.

“My husband, he’s smart, he’s hard working and he’d like to see his country at peace,” said Abasheikh. “No more tribes.”

On its website, People Party of Somalia calls on all Somalis to work together and build a nation that “protects and educates its people, is a partner with the international community to eradicate piracy and protect international borders, and is economically stable and vibrant so its people can prosper.”

In Lewiston, Mohamud founded the African Community Office and became a United States citizen in 2010. He served as an advocate for African immigrant families in Maine and facilitated meetings with community members and coordinated efforts between public, legal and judicial institutions.

“I’m really proud of my dad,” said Mohamud’s 13-year-old daughter, Amina. “I like how he’s bringing different things to Somalia. He’s brought a lot of ideas to Somalia from the United States. I like how he’s trying to make it one community, not all these different ones.”

Reuters News Service reported Monday that newly-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud defeated incumbent President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed by a vote of 190-79 in a secret ballot election held by the parliament. The Somali National University graduate and former UNICEF worker founded the Peace and Development Party in 2011.

The selection of Somalia’s new parliamentary lawmakers was marred by allegations of bribery and intimidation leading up to Monday’s election, according to Reuters. Monday’s vote was seen as a culmination of a regionally brokered, U.N.-backed roadmap to end the conflict that broke out in 1991 and tore the country apart, killing tens of thousands of people in its path.