# The 1979 Somali parliamentary election

> Somalia's 1979 People's Assembly election: the new constitution, the one-party lists, the official 99.91 percent result, and Siad Barre's re-election by the Assembly.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/history/somali-parliamentary-election-1979/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

"Although the Siad Barre government suspended the National Assembly following the 1969 coup, a decade later it created a new single-chamber legislature, the People's Assembly," the US Library of Congress records. "Two such assemblies were elected, one in 1979 and another in 1984" ([Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study*, "Legislature"](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/68.htm)).

The first of those votes was held on 30 December 1979. "All candidates belonged to the SRSP", the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) recorded ([IPU, *Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections* XIV, 1979–80, pp. 121–122](http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/SOMALIA_1979_E.PDF)). For the 1984 vote, see [the 1984 parliamentary election](/en/history/somali-parliamentary-election-1984/).

## Background

- **No parliament for ten years.** "Following the 1969 general elections, Parliament was dissolved later in the year and the military took command of the country" (IPU). See [the 1969 parliamentary election](/en/history/somali-parliamentary-election-1969/) and [the Somali Democratic Republic, 1969–1991](/en/history/somali-democratic-republic-1969-1991/).
- **One party.** "In 1976, the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), the country's sole legal political party, was formed" (IPU).
- **A new constitution.** "In August 1979, a new Constitution was approved by popular referendum" (IPU).
- **Outside pressure.** After the [Ogaden War](/en/history/ogaden-war-1977/), "Western countries were also pressuring the regime to liberalize economic and political life". "In response, Siad Barre held parliamentary elections in December 1979" ([Library of Congress, "Somalia's difficult decade, 1980–90"](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/27.htm)).

## The rules

From the IPU and the Library of Congress:

- **The Assembly.** 171 members elected for five years, plus up to six appointed by the President "from among people dedicated to science, culture and art, or highly esteemed patriots" (IPU). The Library of Congress gives the total as 177 ("Legislature").
- **Voters and candidates.** Citizens could vote at 18 and stand at 21 (IPU).
- **The ballot.** "Electors could vote for or against each, the SRSP nominating an alternate candidate in the latter case" (IPU).
- **Who could run.** "Critics and opponents of the regime were not permitted to run." The government "drew up lists of candidates, all of whom were members of the only legally permitted party", and "submitted the entire lists for voter approval" (Library of Congress, "Legislature").

## The result

The official figures, as given by the IPU:

| | |
|---|---|
| Voters | 3,985,838 |
| Votes for the SRSP | 99.91% |
| Seats won by the SRSP | 171 of 171 |

"Among those elected were 20 members of the armed forces and six women" (IPU).

## After the vote

- **26 January 1980.** "The new Assembly unanimously elected incumbent President Siad Barre for a six-year term." He named a new government on 7 February (IPU). See [Mohamed Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/).
- **The cabinet.** "Following the elections, Siad Barre again reshuffled the cabinet, abolishing the positions of his three vice presidents" ([Library of Congress, "Somalia's difficult decade"](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/27.htm)).
- **October 1980.** The old Supreme Revolutionary Council was revived, leaving three overlapping bodies: the party politburo, the Council of Ministers and the SRC. "The resulting confusion of functions within the administration left decision making solely in Siad Barre's hands" (same source).
- **The Assembly's role.** It "did not truly debate any legislation. It met for several days each year and ratified whatever laws the executive had decided to submit for its 'approval'" (Library of Congress, "Legislature").

## Who suffered?

- **Critics and opponents of the government,** who were barred from standing (Library of Congress, "Legislature").

## Sources differ

- **The size of the Assembly.** The IPU counts 171 elected seats plus up to six appointed. The Library of Congress gives the total of 177.

## Read the primary sources yourself

- Inter-Parliamentary Union, *Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections* XIV (1979–80), Somalia, pp. 121–122: [PDF](http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/SOMALIA_1979_E.PDF).
- Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study* (1993): ["Legislature"](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/68.htm); ["Somalia's difficult decade, 1980–90"](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/27.htm).

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