Somali women find a voice

It is an uphill struglle for Somalian women

In a special report from Djibouti, the BBC's Andrew Harding examines how Somalia's recent elections have empowered one sector of the population.

For the first time in this war-ravaged country, women have been given seats in the parliament.

At the moment, it is still a parliament in exile - formed at a peace conference in the neighbouring state of Djibouti.

However, Sahra Korshel, one of the 25 new female MPs, says the exile may not continue for long.

Sahra Korshel: We will overcome

"As long as we have one voice, as long as we are committed, as long as we believe what we are doing and why we are doing , we believe and we are convinced that we will overcome," she says.

However, the women will have their work cut out.

Somalia is a deeply conservative, clan-based, Muslim country.

Asha Haji Elmi: One step ahead of men

Men call the shots, and shoot the guns though, women MPs like Asha Haji Elmi believe that they can make a difference.

"Not now but in the future, yes, because we are already one step ahead of men," she says.

Chaos, after all, is their speciality. Somalia's warlords and their rival clan militias have profited from anarchy.

They have little reason to welcome the return of centralised government.

Some have threatened to use force to block the new parliament and its choice of president.

Presidential support

But that president, Sadiqassim Salad Hassan, seems unfazed.

He was sworn in last weekend and has been publicly endorsed by the United Nations and most neighbouring countries.

Mr Hassan was a minister in the last Somali government under the dictator Siad Barre.

Sadiqassim Salad Hassan: New Somali president is supportive of women

The warlords say that makes him a potential dictator too.

"I know that when we will sit together m they will abide by the will of the Somali people," he says.

"The women are very important because they are the majority of the population of Somalia."

It is too early to tell whether this new Somali state has the strength to take root.

However, with the women MPs on board, and with an exhausted population desperate for peace, it is certainly the best hope the country has had in years.