- Country name
- conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia
conventional short form: Somalia
local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
etymology: the name means "Land of the Somali," a local ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal, meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla, meaning "cattle" - Government type
- federal parliamentary republic
- Capital
- name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 20 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas, meaning "holy" - Administrative divisions
- 18 regions (gobollo, singular - gobol); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
- Legal system
- mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
- Constitution
- history: previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012
amendment process: proposed by the federal government, by members of the state governments, the Federal Parliament, or by public petition; proposals require review by a joint committee of Parliament with inclusion of public comments and state legislatures’ comments; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament and approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; constitutional clauses on Islamic principles, the federal system, human rights and freedoms, powers and authorities of the government branches, and inclusion of women in national institutions cannot be amended - International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Somalia
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years - Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022)
head of government: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People
election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament by two-thirds majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term; prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of the People
most recent election date: 15 May 2022
election results: 2022: HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud elected president in third round - Federal Parliament percent of vote in first round - Said ABDULLAHI DENI (Kaah) 20.2%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 18.3%, HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 16.2%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE (independent) 14.6%, other 30.7%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in second round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 34.1%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 25.7%, Said ABDULLAHI DENI 21%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE 19.2%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in third round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 66%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 34%
expected date of next election: 2026 - Legislative branch
- legislature name: Federal Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral - Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name: House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)
number of seats: 275 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022
percentage of women in chamber: 19%
expected date of next election: October 2026 - Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name: Upper House (Aqalka Sare)
number of seats: 54 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021
percentage of women in chamber: 25.9%
expected date of next election: July 2026 - Judicial branch
- highest court(s): the provisional constitution stipulates the establishment of the Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, including the chief judge and deputy chief judge)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president on proposal of the Judicial Service Commission, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts - Political parties
- Cosmopolitan Democratic PartyGreen PartyHimilo Qaran PartyIlays PartyJustice and Reconciliation PartyNational Progressive PartyPeace and Unity PartyQaransoor PartyQiimo Qaran PartySecurity and Justice PartySocial Justice PartySomali Labour PartySomali Republic PartySomali Social Unity Party or SSUPUnion for Peace and Development Party or PDPWadajir Party
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 853-9164
email address and website: washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.sohttps://usa.mfa.gov.so/ - Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)
embassy: Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)
mailing address: P.O. Box 606 Village Market00621 Nairobi, Kenya
telephone: [254] 20 363-6451
email address and website: SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.govhttps://so.usembassy.gov/ - International organization participation
- ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidate), EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
- 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
- Flag
- description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the centermeaning: the blue field was originally influenced by the UN flag but today is said to represent the sky and the Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the regions in the horn of Africa where Somali people live: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northeast Province (Kenya)
- National symbol(s)
- leopard
- National color(s)
- blue, white
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag)
lyrics/music: Abdullahi QARSHE
history: adopted 2012 - Government - note
- regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various areas of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia