The Republic, 1960 to 1991
The 1979 Somali parliamentary election
On 30 December 1979 Somalia elected the 171 elected members of a new People's Assembly, set up by the constitution approved in a referendum that August. All candidates belonged to the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), the only legal party, and opponents of the government could not run. The government reported 3,985,838 voters and 99.91 percent support for the SRSP. It was the first legislature since the 1969 coup. In January 1980 the Assembly elected Siad Barre President for six years.
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").
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). For the 1984 vote, see the 1984 parliamentary election.
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 and the 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, "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").
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:
| Item | Item |
|---|---|
| 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.
- 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").
- 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.
- Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study (1993): "Legislature"; "Somalia's difficult decade, 1980–90".
Sources
- Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study, "Legislature" · countrystudies.us
- IPU, Chronicle of Parliamentary Elections XIV, 1979–80, pp. 121–122 · archive.ipu.org
- Library of Congress, "Somalia's difficult decade, 1980–90" · countrystudies.us
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Where it happened
Same era
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- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
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- Finland (Somali diaspora)28,167 Somali speakers lived in Finland at the end of 2025, more than half in Helsinki. Numbers, history, work, leaders and ties home.
Keep reading
- The 1960 Constitution of the Somali RepublicThe 1960 Somali Constitution in its own words: the republic, equal rights, the flag, Islam, the National Assembly, the president, and the 1961 referendum.
- How Somali came to be written: from Osmanya to the 1972 Latin alphabetThe history of written Somali: Arabic-script writing, Osmanya, Borama and Kaddare scripts, the 1972 Latin alphabet, and the 1974 literacy campaign.
- The Somali Democratic Republic, 1969–1991: how the state was runHow the Somali Democratic Republic was run, 1969–1991: the SRC, the single party, the 1979 constitution, the courts, the NSS, local government and the script.
- The 1964 Somali parliamentary electionSomalia's first post-independence national election, March 1964: the parties, the results, women's vote in the north, and the crisis over the prime minister.
- The 1969 Somali parliamentary electionSomalia's last multi-party vote, March 1969: 64 parties, the SYL win, the rush to join it, fraud charges, and the road to the October 1969 coup.
- Kenya's Northern Frontier District, 1962–1967: the vote that was not followedKenya's NFD, 1962–1967: the British commission, the March 1963 decision, the break with Britain, the conflict that followed, and the Arusha memorandum.