World Factbook
Somalia
Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center meaning: 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)
Capital
name
Mogadishu
etymology
the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas , meaning "holy"
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
2 04 N, 45 20 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections
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
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
Country name
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"
local long form
Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
local short form
Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
conventional long form
Federal Republic of Somalia
conventional short form
Somalia
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)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
note
note: under the terms of the 2004 Transitional National Charter, a Supreme Court based in Mogadishu and the Appeal Court were established, but most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, whether secular, Somali customary law, or Islamic law
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)
subordinate courts
federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts
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
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People
chief of state
President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 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%
head of government
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)
most recent election date
15 May 2022
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
expected date of next election
2026
National holiday
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
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
National color(s)
blue, white
Political parties
Cosmopolitan Democratic Party Green Party Himilo Qaran Party Ilays Party Justice and Reconciliation Party National Progressive Party Peace and Unity Party Qaransoor Party Qiimo Qaran Party Security and Justice Party Social Justice Party Somali Labour Party Somali Republic Party Somali Social Unity Party or SSUP Union for Peace and Development Party or PDP Wadajir Party
note: in 2017 an independent electoral commission (the NIEC) was inaugurated with a mandate to oversee the process of registration of political parties in the country; as of 2021, the NIEC had registered a total of 110 parties
Legislative branch
note
note: despite the formation of political parties in 2020, the 2021 parliamentary elections maintained a primarily clan-based system of appointments; seats in the legislature were apportioned to Somali member states and not by party representation
legislature name
Federal Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag)
history
adopted 2012
lyrics/music
Abdullahi QARSHE
National symbol(s)
leopard
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
275 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
19%
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Upper House (Aqalka Sare)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
54 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021
expected date of next election
July 2026
percentage of women in chamber
25.9%
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery
1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 853-9164
chief of mission
Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)
email address and website
washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)
telephone
[254] 20 363-6451
mailing address
P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya
chief of mission
Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)
email address and website
SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt