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Two regional administrations exist in northern Somalia—the self-declared "Republic of Somaliland" in the northwest and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in the northeast. In Somaliland, which is made up of the former British protectorate, Dahir Riyale Kahin was elected President in presidential elections deemed free and fair by international observers in May 2003. The area of Puntland declared itself autonomous (although not independent) in 1998 with its capital at Garowe. General Mohamed Adde Muse was elected President by the Puntland parliament in January 2005. Puntland declared it would remain autonomous until a federated Somalia state was established.
Two regional administrations exist in northern Somalia—the self-declared "Republic of Somaliland" in the northwest and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in the northeast. In Somaliland, which is made up of the former British protectorate, Dahir Riyale Kahin was elected President in presidential elections deemed free and fair by international observers in May 2003. The area of Puntland declared itself autonomous (although not independent) in 1998 with its capital at Garowe. General Mohamed Adde Muse was elected President by the Puntland parliament in January 2005. Puntland declared it would remain autonomous until a federated Somalia state was established.
===Foreign Relations===
===1960s-1991 / Foreign Relations===
Somalia followed a foreign policy of nonalignment for a brief period following independence. In 1970, the Siad Barre regime declared a national ideology based on scientific Socialism and aligned its foreign policy with the Soviet Union and China. In the 1980s, Somalia shifted its alignment to the West following a territorial conflict with Ethiopia over the disputed Somali-populated region of the Ogaden from 1977–78, which was supported by the Soviet Union. The central government also sought ties with many Arab countries, and continued to receive financial and military support from several Arab countries prior to its collapse in 1991.
In 1960, Somalia gained independence from colonial rule, as the regions previously controlled by Italy and Britain united to form a new nation. What began as a hopeful step toward self-governance soon took a dark turn.
In 1969, a military coup brought General [[Mohammed Siad Barre]] to power. Backed by the Soviet Union, Barre quickly transformed Somalia into a [[socialism|socialist]] dictatorship, aligning the country with communist powers and imposing a radical left-wing agenda. Under the guise of "scientific socialism," Barre centralized power, suppressed dissent, and merged Marxist ideology with Somali nationalism [for greater Somalia] and [[Islam]]—a volatile mix that fueled decades of instability.
Barre even glorifying the 'mad mullah' setting up a statue for him.
In the 1980s, he shifted Somalia's alignment to the West following a territorial conflict with Ethiopia over the disputed Somali-populated region of the Ogaden from 1977–78, which was supported by the Soviet Union.
US cut links to Somalia upon hearing atrocities.
The central government also sought ties with many Arab countries, and continued to receive financial and military support from several Arab countries prior to its collapse in 1991.
In 1963, Somalia severed diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom for a period following a dispute over Kenya's Somali-populated northeastern region (Northern Frontier District), an area inhabited mainly by Somalis. Related problems have arisen from the boundary with Ethiopia and the large-scale migrations of Somali nomads between Ethiopia and Somalia. In the aftermath of the 1977-78 war between Somalia and Ethiopia, the Government of Somalia continued to call for self-determination for ethnic Somalis living in the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia. At the March 1983 Nonaligned Movement summit in New Delhi, President Siad Barre stated that Somalia harbored no expansionist aims and was willing to negotiate with Ethiopia over the disputed Ogaden region.
In 1963, Somalia severed diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom for a period following a dispute over Kenya's Somali-populated northeastern region (Northern Frontier District), an area inhabited mainly by Somalis. Related problems have arisen from the boundary with Ethiopia and the large-scale migrations of Somali nomads between Ethiopia and Somalia. In the aftermath of the 1977-78 war between Somalia and Ethiopia, the Government of Somalia continued to call for self-determination for ethnic Somalis living in the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia. At the March 1983 Nonaligned Movement summit in New Delhi, President Siad Barre stated that Somalia harbored no expansionist aims and was willing to negotiate with Ethiopia over the disputed Ogaden region.
In 1978, emboldened by Soviet support, Barre launched an invasion of the Ogaden region in Ethiopia, hoping to expand Somali influence. The campaign backfired disastrously. Ethiopia, now also a Marxist ally of the USSR and aided heavily by Cuban troops, repelled the Somali offensive and retaliated by devastating villages in the Ogaden region. As a result, roughly one million civilians—mostly women and children—were forced to flee into Somalia, creating a refugee crisis on top of an already strained nation.
Defeated abroad and weakened at home, Barre responded to growing internal opposition—especially from the Isaaq clan in the north—with brutal force. In the late 1980s, his regime launched a full-scale military assault on northern cities such as Hargeisa, Berbera, and Bur’o. Prior to the bombings, Isaaq civilians were forcibly marched through the desert toward Ethiopia’s border. Barre's racist [[Isaaq genocide]] claimed the lives of 200,000. Entire cities were depopulated and reduced to rubble. By 1990, over 360,000 Somali refugees had crossed into Ethiopia. The Washington Post estimated that 50,000 civilians—most of them from the Isaaq clan—were killed.
Despite signing a peace agreement with Ethiopia in 1988, Barre's government remained unstable. His heavy-handed socialist policies, militarism, and reliance on foreign communist powers had left the country economically crippled and politically fractured.
By 1991, after years of repression, civil war, and mounting opposition from across Somalia’s clans and regions, Siad Barre was overthrown and fled into exile—bringing an end to a disastrous regime that had plunged Somalia into chaos and set the stage for decades of unrest.
Following the collapse of the Barre regime, the foreign policy of the various entities in Somalia, including the Transitional Federal Government, has centered on gaining international recognition, winning international support for national reconciliation, and obtaining international economic assistance.
Following the collapse of the Barre regime, the foreign policy of the various entities in Somalia, including the Transitional Federal Government, has centered on gaining international recognition, winning international support for national reconciliation, and obtaining international economic assistance.
==Jihadist groups==
Since 1991, Islamic radicals advanced. Al Shabaab and Boko Haram terror jihadists have become very active, deadly.
==Defense==
==Defense==