Legal system:
no national system; Shari'a (Islamic) and secular courts based on
Somali customary law (xeer) are present in some localities; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Abdullahi YUSUF
Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFI
relocated to Somalia in June 2004, but its members remain divided
between Mogadishu and Jowhar inside Somalia, and the government
continues to struggle to establish effective governance in the
country
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Mohamed GEDI (since 24
December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the former leader of the
semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by
the Transitional Federal Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal
Assembly; 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 the central government, most regions
have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,
traditional Somali customary law, or Shari'a (Islamic) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and sub-clan factions are currently vying for power
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the TFG and other factions have representatives in
Washington and at the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157