Federal Government of Somalia
 |
| This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Somalia |
|
Constitution
|
|
|
Judiciary
|
The Federal Government of Somalia (Somali: Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya, Arabic: حكومة الصومال الاتحادية) is the internationally recognised government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Contents |
Overview [edit]
The Federal Government of Somalia was established on August 20, 2012, following the end of the interim mandate of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).[1]
It officially comprises the executive branch of government, with the parliament serving as the legislative branch. It is headed by the President of Somalia, to whom the Cabinet reports through the Prime Minister.[2]
Structure [edit]
Constitution [edit]
The national constitution lays out the basic way in which the government is to operate.[2] It was passed on June 23, 2012, after several days of deliberation between Somali federal and regional politicians.[3] To come into effect, the constitution must be ratified by the new parliament.[4]
Under the new constitution, Somalia, now officially known as the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a federation.[5]
Executive branch [edit]
The President is elected by the Parliament. He or she serves as the head of state and chooses the Prime Minister, who serves as the head of government and leads the Council of Ministers. According to Article 97 of the constitution, most executive powers of the Somali government are vested in the Council of Ministers.[2] The incumbent President of Somalia is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.[6] Abdi Farah Shirdon is the national Prime Minister.[7]
Council of Ministers [edit]
The Cabinet is formally known as the Council of Ministers. It is appointed by the Prime Minister.[2]
Parliament [edit]
The Federal Parliament of Somalia elects the President and Prime Minister, and has the authority to pass and veto laws.[2] It is bicameral, and consists of a 275 seat lower house as well as an upper house capped at 54 representatives.[8] By law, at least 30% of all MPs must be women.[9] Members of parliament were selected by a Technical Selection Committee, which was tasked with vetting potential legislators that were in turn nominated by a National Constituent Assembly consisting of elders.[10] The current Speaker of the Federal Parliament is Mohamed Osman Jawari.[11]
Judiciary [edit]
A Supreme Court based in Mogadishu as well as an Appeals Court form the core of the judiciary. Smaller local courts also exist. A Judicial Service Council directs all judiciary and advises the President.
Federal Member States [edit]
Local state governments, officially recognized as Federal Member States, have a degree of autonomy over regional affairs and maintain their own police and security forces. However, they are constitutionally subject to the authority of the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The national parliament is tasked with selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of the Federal Member States within the Federal Republic of Somalia.[5][2]
Education [edit]
The Ministry of Education is officially responsible for education in Somalia. However, in practice, the education system is now largely private. In 2006, the autonomous Puntland region in the northeast was the second territory in Somalia after the Somaliland region to introduce free primary schools, with teachers now receiving their salaries from the Puntland administration.[12] As of 2007, primary schools have also seen a 28% increase in enrollment over the preceding three years.[13]
Healthcare [edit]
The Ministry of Health heads the country's healthcare system. The autonomous Puntland region has its own local Ministry of Health, as does the Somaliland region in northwestern Somalia.
Media [edit]
The federal government has two main media outlets: Radio Mogadishu, the state-run radio station; and Somali National Television, the national television channel.
Military and police [edit]
The central government's Ministry of Defense is officially responsible for the Military of Somalia and its various subdivisions.
Capital [edit]
The constitution recognizes Mogadishu as the capital of Somalia. The Parliament of Somalia meets in the city, which is also the seat of the nation's Supreme Court. In addition, Mogadishu is the location of the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, where the President resides. The Prime Minister also lives in the city.
International relations [edit]
The Federal Government of Somalia is internationally recognized as Somalia's official central government. It occupies the country's seat in the United Nations, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Somali federal government has a Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations. It also has embassies in various countries.[14]
Additionally, there are various foreign diplomatic missions in Somalia. Ethiopia maintains an embassy in Mogadishu,[15] and consulates in Hargeisa in Somaliland[16] and in Garowe in Puntland.[17] Djibouti re-opened its embassy in Mogadishu in December 2010.[18] The following year, India also re-opened its embassy in the capital after a twenty-year absence,[19] as did Turkey.[20] Iran and the United Kingdom followed suit in 2013.[21] Italy maintains a special diplomatic delegation and a Technical Mission to Mogadishu, and is scheduled to re-open its embassy in the city.[22] In 2013, Egypt likewise announced plans to re-open its embassy in Mogadishu.[23]
In January 2013, the United States announced that it was set to exchange diplomatic notes with the new central government of Somalia, re-establishing official ties with the country for the first time in 20 years.[24][25]
Passports [edit]
For travel, Somali citizens can obtain a Somali passport from government-designated locations or from Somali embassies abroad.
References [edit]
- ^ "Somalia: UN Envoy Says Inauguration of New Parliament in Somalia 'Historic Moment'". Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Guidebook to the Somali Draft Provisional Constitution". Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Somalia: Somali Leaders Adopt Draft Constitution". ANP/AFP. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Somali leaders back new constitution". BBC. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ a b "The Federal Republic of Somalia - Harmonized Draft Constitution". Federal Republic of Somalia. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Somali lawmakers elect Mohamud as next president". Reuters. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- ^ "Somali president names political newcomer as PM -diplomats". Reuters. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ^ "Somalia swears in historic new parliament". Al Jazeera. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ Somalia Garowe conference comes to a close
- ^ Somalia: List of new parliamentarians leaked
- ^ "Somali Parliament Elects Speaker for New Gov’t". Voice of America. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ Staff writer, Staff writer (2006 04 06). "Puntland (Somalia) to introduce free primary schools". Afrol News. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
- ^ Ihebuzor, Noel (2005 01 31). "EC and UNICEF join hands to support education in Somalia". United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Retrieved 2007-02-09.
- ^ "Somali Ministry". Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- ^ We urgently need an Embassy in Somalia
- ^ Ethiopian Trade Office Somaliland - Somalia
- ^ SOMALIA: Ethiopia opens consulate in Puntland
- ^ Djibouti Government Opens its Embassy in Mogadishu
- ^ Somalia: India Reopens Its Embassy in Country After 20 Years
- ^ Press Release Regarding the Re-opening of the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu
- ^ "Britain Re-opens Embassy in Somalia". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Italy first in West to reopen embassy in Somalia
- ^ "Egypt to re-open embassy in Mogadishu". Sabahi. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "US set to formally recognise Somali government after 20-year hiatus". Reuters. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Set to Recognize Somali Government". VOA. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
