Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland,
which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June
(1960) in Somaliland
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 had
a three-year mandate to create a new constitution and hold
elections, this goal was not achieved but the process is ongoing
Legal system:
no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some
localities
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note
- a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member
parliament was established in October 2004 replacing the
Transitional National Government created in 2000
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland
region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal
Government
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 3
November 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal
Government replaced the Transitional National Government created in
2000; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each of
four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye) with
the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans
Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of national government, most regions have
reverted to either Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal
of all sentences, or traditional clan-based arbitration
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power