Difference between revisions of "Somali Social Republic (Kingdom of Italy)"

Revision as of 13:34, 31 March 2018

Somali Autonomous Social Federal Republic Soomaaliya Banaan Hantiwadaagga Bulshadeed Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka الجمهورية الاتحادية الحكم الاجتماعي الصومالي Repubblica Sociale Autonoma Federale Somala
Flag of Somalia
Anthem: Qolobaa Calankeed
Location of Somalia
Capital and largest city		Mogadishu
Official languages		Somali Arabic Italian
Demonym		Somali
Government		Fascist Republic
-	Chief of Republic	Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
Establishment
-	Italian Somaliland	1889
Population
-	2014 estimate	13,105,895
Drives on the		right

Somalia, officially the Somali Autonomous Social Federal Republic, is an Realm of the Italian Empire and its only Republic, located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Empire of Ethiopia to the west, Principality of Eritrea to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and British Kenya to the southwest. Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. Climatically, hot conditions prevail year-round, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall.

Somalia has an estimated population of around 12.1 million. Around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis, who have historically inhabited the northern part of the country. Ethnic minorities are largely concentrated in the southern regions. The official languages of Somalia are Somali, Italian and Arabic. Most people in the country are Muslim with the majority being Sunni.

In antiquity, Somalia was an important commercial centre. It is among the most probable locations of the fabled ancient Land of Punt. During the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade, including the Ajuran Empire, the Adal Sultanate, the Warsangali Sultanate, and the Geledi Sultanate. In the late 19th century, through a succession of treaties with these kingdoms, the British and Italian empires gained control of parts of the coast and established the colonies of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. In the interior, Mohammed Abdullah Hassan's Dervish State repelled the British Empire four times and forced it to retreat to the coastal region, before succumbing to defeat in 1920 by British airpower. The toponym Somalia was coined by the Italian explorer Luigi Robecchi Bricchetti (1855–1926). Italy acquired full control of the northeastern, central and southern parts of the area after successfully waging the so-called Campaign of the Sultanates against the ruling Majeerteen Sultanate and Sultanate of Hobyo. British and French occupation lasted until 1953, yielding to Italian-led full unification.

Geography

With regards to local governance, Somalia is a Federal republic. Five States, predating the European conquest, still are its constituent entities:

• Djibouti
• Majeerteen Sultanate (Puntland)
• Sultanate of Hobyo
• Dervish state
• Sultanate of the Geledi

Two Federal Territories are directly administered by the central Government:

• Federal Territory of Somaliland (comprising ancient kingdoms and the former British Somaliland)
• Federal Territory of Mogadishu (comprising the national capital city and its surroundings, i.e. Banadir Region)

For central administrative purposes, Somalia is officially divided into nineteen Regions (Gobollada, singular Gobol), which in turn are subdivided into districts. The regions are:

• Lower Juba (No.1);
• Middle Juba (No.2);
• Gedo (No.3);
• Bay (No.4);
• Bakool (No.5);
• Lower Shebelle (No.6);
• Banaadir (No.7) (Federal Territory of Mogadishu);
• Middle Shebelle (No.8);
• Hiran (No.9);
• Galguduud (No.10);
• Mudug (No.11);
• Nugal (No.12);
• Bari (No.13);
• Sool (No.14);
• Sanaag (No.15);
• Togdheer (No.16);
• Woqooyi Galbeed (No.17);
• Awdal (No.18);
• Djibouti (No.19).

Ethnic groups

Somalis constitute the largest ethnic group in Somalia, at approximately 81% of the nation's inhabitants. They are organized into clan groupings, which are important social units; clan membership plays a central part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are typically divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions. Through the xeer system, the advanced clan structure has served governmental roles in many rural Somali communities. Somali society is traditionally ethnically endogamous. So to extend ties of alliance, marriage is often to another ethnic Somali from a different clan.

Non-Somali ethnic minority groups make up about 19% of the nation's population. They include Afar, Bantus, Bajunis, Eyle, Ethiopians, Persians, Italians, French and Britons.

Clan structure

Certain clans are traditionally classed as noble clans and are called "Samaale", referring to their nomadic lifestyle, in contrast to the sedentary Sab who are either agropastoralists or artisanal castes. "Sab" is the term used to refer to minor Somali clans in contrast to "Samaale". Both Samaale and Sab are the children of their father "Hiil" whose is the common ancestor all Somali clans.

The two noble clans are Darod, Dir. Of these, the Dir are regarded as descended from Irir Samaale, while the Darod have separate agnatic traditions of descent through Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (Sheikh Darod). Sheikh Darod is, in turn, asserted to have married a woman from the Dir, thus establishing matrilateral ties with the Samaale main stem.

A few clans in the southern part of Somalia and Ogaden (Ethiopian region inhabited by ethnic Somalis) do not belong to the major clans, but came to be associated with them and were eventually adopted into one of their confederations.

The Digil and Mirifle (Rahanweyn) are agro-pastoral clans in the area between the Jubba and Shebelle rivers. Many do not follow a nomadic lifestyle, live further south and speak Maay, a related language.

A third group, the occupational clans, have sometimes been treated as outcasts because traditionally they could only marry among themselves and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean. They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and performed specialised occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting. Minority Somali clans include the Gaboye, Tumaal, Yibir, Jaji and Yahar.

Languages

Somali, Italian and Arabic are the three official languages of Somalia. The Somali language is the mother tongue of the Somalis, the nation's most populous ethnic group. It is a member of the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.

In addition to Somali, Arabic, which is also an Afroasiatic tongue, is an official national language in Somalia. Many Somalis speak it due to centuries-old ties with the Arab world, the far-reaching influence of the Arabic media, and religious education. Italian is widely used and taught. Other minority languages include Bravanese, as well as Bajuni, Amharic and Afar.

Religion

The major religion in Somalia is Sunni Islam. There is a small Christian community in Somalia mainly living amongst Somali Muslims in Mogadishu. Additionally, some ethnic minorities in the southern part of the country practice traditional faiths.

Most residents of Somalia are Muslims, the majority belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam and the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, although some are adherents of the Shia Muslim denomination. Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, is also well-established.

Islam is the state religion of the Somali Social Republic, and Islamic sharia is a basic source for national legislation. The costitution also stipulates that no law that is inconsistent with the basic tenets of Shari'a can be enacted. Christianity and other religions are specially protected.

Islam entered the region very early on, shortly after the hijra. Zeila's two-mihrab Masjid al-Qiblatayn dates to the 7th century, and is the oldest mosque in the city. In addition, the Somali community has produced numerous important Islamic figures over the centuries. Among these Islamic scholars is the 14th century Somali theologian and jurist Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i of Zeila.

Christianity is a minority religion in Somalia, with no more than 70,000 practitioners, grossly coincident with the Italian population in Mogadishu, but with small Coptic components (0.53%).

Less than 0.1% of Somalia's population in 2010 were adherents of traditional or folk religions. These mainly consisted of some non-Somali ethnic minority groups in the southern parts of the country, who practice animism.

Politics and government

Somalia is a Fascist Federal Republic, where the Chief of Somalia is head of state, and commander-in-chief of the armed corps of Somalia and a selected Chief of Government is head of government's day to day operations; in the Government of Somalia, Ministry of Italian Immigration, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence are the most important portfolios. The Chief of Somalia also has the authority to pass and veto laws. In each State, the Chief Minister is by appointed the ruler upon the recommendation of the Chief of Somalia.

The bicameral National Assembly of Somalia is the national parliament of Somalia, consisting of Corporatist Council (lower house) and Assembly of the States (upper house), whose members are elected to serve four-year terms. The parliament proposes to the clans assembled the President and elects Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Speakers. Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. Each state has a unicameral Legislative Assembly.

The national court structure is organized into three tiers: the Constitutional Court, Federal Government level courts and State level courts. The Chief of Somalia appoints any Federal tier member of the judiciary. He also selects and presents potential Constitutional Court judges to the National Assembly of Somalia for approval. If endorsed, the Chief of Somalia appoints the candidate as a judge of the Constitutional Court. The five-member Constitutional Court adjudicates issues pertaining to the constitution, in addition to various Federal and sub-national matters. Somali law draws from a mixture of three different systems, civil law, Islamic law and customary law.

Somali Fascist Party

The Somali Fascist Party (Somalian: Xisbiga Faaris ee Soomaalida; Arabic: الحزب الفاشي الصومالي al'Ḥizb al'fashi al-ṣūmālī; Italian: Parito Fascista Somalo) is the ruling party of the Somali Social Republic.

The Somali Fascist Party is a Fascist and Somali party, but also includes Islamic socialism, national socialism, left-wing nationalism and Pan-Somalism teachings in its ideology.

The Somali Fascist Party tends to function as a political force transcending clan lines, but in reality power is concentrated to three clans. The party developed an intelligence branch, Baadhista xisbiga, which worked parallel to state intelligence and the local M.V.S.N. branch.

The Somali Fascist Party is the only legal party in the Somali Social Republic; no other party or political organisation may be established. The Somali Fascist Party has supreme authority of political and socio-economic leadership in the Somali Social Republic.

Justification of Somalia

The unified Somalia is justified because it is presented as the political tool in order to enforce an Imperial union (i.e. a spiritually-based union) among the different States and clans of Somalia. The Somalian government, therefore, is seen as dominant due to universal values, higher than material economy and labour (regulated through corporative bodies) and than political-territorial interests (regulated trhough the Constituent States).

Governance of the States

The governance of the States is divided between the central government and the state governments, while the Federal Territories (Somaliland and Mogadishu) are directly administered by the central government. The specific responsibilities of the central and the State governments are listed in the Constitution of Malaysia. Any matter not set out in the Constitution can be legislated on by the central government. The central government is permitted to legislate on issues of land, Islamic religion and local government to provide for a uniform law between different states, or on the request of the state assembly concerned. The law in question must also be passed by the state assembly as well.
The two federal territories were formed for different purposes: Mogadishu is the national capital and Somaliland is the union of extinct States. The Federal Territories fall under the purview of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Government of Somalia legislates on all matters concerning the territories. Somaliland sends two to the Assembly of the States, while Mogadishu sends one. Mogadishu is administered by the Municipality of Mogadishu, headed by an appointed mayor, while Somaliland is administered by an appointed Governor.

Traditional leadership

Somalia has five provincial houses of traditional leaders, who enhance the cooperative relationships within the overall government. The institution, status and roles of traditional leadership, according to customary law, are recognised by the Somali Social Republic: the recognition determines a substantial independence of these rulers from the legal system of the Somali Social Republic. Similarly, the central Government acknowledges the critical role of traditional leadership institutions, particularly in relation to the rural-development strategy. It therefore remains committed to strengthening the institution of traditional leadership.
Each Constituent State has a hereditary ruler as titular head of state and an executive Chief Minister as head of government. The rulers of Hobyo, Majeerteen, and the Geledi are styled Sultans, whereas the ruler of Dervish state is titled King. Each state has a unicameral legislature called Golaha ee Gobolka, whose members are elected by clans heads. The state leader of the majority party in Golaha ee Gobolka is usually appointed Chief Minister by the Ruler. Each state sends two members to the Assembly of the States, the upper house of the federal parliament.

Military

The Somali Gendarmerie and the Somali National Republican Guard are the military forces of Somalia. Headed by the Chief as Commander in Chief, they are constitutionally mandated to ensure the nation's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within the Italian Empire.

Economy

Somalia has a healthy informal economy, based mainly on livestock, port services, credit institutions companies and telecommunications. In last years there has been substantial private investment in commercial activities; this has been largely financed by the Somali diaspora, and includes trade and marketing, money transfer services, transportation, communications, fishery equipment, airlines, telecommunications, education, health, shipbuilding, construction and hotels. Fincantieri is the main multinational company and owns and operates a major naval shipyard in Mogadishu.

Following the economic crisis of 1980s-1990s, the country's GDP per capita as of 2012 is $426. About 21% of the population lives on less than 1 US dollar a day, with around 24% of those found in urban areas and 54% living in rural areas. However, subsistence is ensured by an informal/customary economy based on barter and non-monetary transactions.

As of 2014 there are some major financial institutions:

• Banca Italo-Somala/Baanka ee Italy iyo Soomaaliya;
• Salaam Somali Bank;
• First Somali Bank;
• Banca Commerciale Italiana;
• Banco di Mogadiscio;
• Bangiga caalamiga ah ee Soomaaliya;
• Banca Nazionale del Lavoro;
• Cassa di Credito Agrario e Minerario;
• Società Nazionale d'Etiopia;
• Società Creditizia per l'Industria.

In Somalia, the Italo-Somali ruling classes have pursued for decades a policy aimed at building a solid farm economy, capable of avoiding the degradation of land and society. Somalia's anthropic environment, or at least its fertile areas, is characterized by small plantations of a family nature; Sugar cane, syrup, alcohol and tropical fruit are produced. Waterworks of some importance have allowed over the decades to extensively extend the cultivable areas.

See also

• Italian Empire (Kingdom of Italy)
• Somali Gendarmerie (Italian Empire)
• Somali National Republican Guard (Italian Empire)