Somalia Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form : none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic

Data code SO

Government type none

National capital Mogadishu

Administrative divisions 18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir,Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug,Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, WoqooyiGalbeed

Independence 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independentfrom the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independentfrom the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the SomaliRepublic)

National holiday NA

Constitution 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Legal system NA

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC)ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991;the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fightingand random banditry

Legislative branch unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga
note: the Golaha Shacbiga is not functioning

Judicial branch Supreme Court (not functioning)

Political parties and leaders the United Somali Congress or USC ousted the former regime on 27 January1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Partyor SRSP, headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army MajorGeneral Mohamed SIAD Barre

Political pressure groups and leaders numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May1991)

Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are representedby the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailaddress: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254](2) 334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838

Flag description light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; designbased on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

NOTE: The information regarding Somalia on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Somalia Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Somalia Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.