Somali Republic (1960–1991) Mogadishu

an avenue in mogadishu in 1963

british somaliland became independent on 26 june 1960 state of somaliland, , trust territory of somalia (the former italian somaliland) followed suit 5 days later. on 1 july 1960, 2 territories united form somali republic, mogadishu serving nation s capital. government formed abdullahi issa , other members of trusteeship , protectorate governments, haji bashir ismail yusuf president of somali national assembly, aden abdullah osman daar president of somali republic, , abdirashid ali shermarke prime minister (later become president 1967 1969). on 20 july 1961 , through popular referendum, people of somalia ratified new constitution, first drafted in 1960. in 1967, muhammad haji ibrahim egal became prime minister, position appointed shermarke.

on 15 october 1969, while paying visit northern town of las anod, somalia s president abdirashid ali shermarke assassinated 1 of own bodyguards. assassination followed military coup d état on 21 october 1969 (the day after funeral), in somali army seized power without encountering armed opposition — bloodless takeover. putsch spearheaded major general mohamed siad barre, @ time commanded army.

metropolitan mogadishu in 1980s

alongside barre, supreme revolutionary council (src) assumed power after president sharmarke s assassination led lieutenant colonel salaad gabeyre kediye , chief of police jama korshel. kediye officially held title of father of revolution, , barre shortly afterwards became head of src. src subsequently renamed country somali democratic republic, arrested members of former civilian government, banned political parties, dissolved parliament , supreme court, , suspended constitution.

the revolutionary army established various large-scale public works programmes, including mogadishu stadium. in addition nationalization programme of industry , land, mogadishu-based new regime s foreign policy placed emphasis on somalia s traditional , religious links arab world, joining arab league in 1974.

after fallout unsuccessful ogaden campaign of late 1970s, barre administration began arresting government , military officials under suspicion of participation in abortive 1978 coup d état. of people had allegedly helped plot putsch summarily executed. however, several officials managed escape abroad , started form first of various dissident groups dedicated ousting barre s regime force.