Africa & Middle East · reference
🇸🇴 Somalia
Federal parliamentary republic with indirect clan-based politics
SystemFederal parliamentary republic with indirect clan-based politics
Head of statePresident Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose mandate is disputed in an ongoing constitutional standoff
Head of governmentPrime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre
LegislatureFederal Parliament · a 275-seat House of the People and a 54-seat Senate, chosen indirectly by clan delegates
ElectionsNo direct national elections since 1969 · a planned move to universal suffrage is contested by federal member states
Last election2022-05-15 · indirect presidential election by parliament
Next electionDirect elections announced for 2026 but rejected by Puntland and Jubaland, leaving the timetable unresolved
Constitutional amendments since 2024 aiming at one-person-one-vote elections have deepened a rift between Mogadishu and the Puntland and Jubaland states, compounding a dispute over the president's term. Al-Shabaab remains a potent insurgency as African Union forces draw down. Somaliland's separate push for recognition, including a Red Sea port deal with Ethiopia, adds further pressure on the federal project.
Live encyclopedic leader and election records · verified 2026-07-02
The Margin models elections where a competitive public record exists · all countries