Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party

Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
	Far-left
Colours	Blue and red
Party flag
	Politics of Somalia; Political parties; Elections;

The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP,

Arabic: الحزب الاشتراكي الثوري الصومالي, al-Ḥizb al-ishtirākī at-thawrī as-ṣūmālī) was the ruling party of the Somali Democratic Republic

from 1976 to 1991.

History

SRSP was created by the military regime of

socialists such as Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Abdulrahman Aidiid, Mohamed F. Weyrah and (a well known socialist economist) and Abukar Sh. M Hussien

.

During a brief period, prior to the

failed military coup of April 9, 1978, popularly known as "Nova Aprile". In 1981 dissident factions would emerge as the Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia

.

When Barre's regime fell in 1991, the SRSP dissolved. In the same year the Somali National Front was organized by Barre loyalists.

Organisation

The SRSP was supposed to function as a political force transcending

clan lines

, but in reality there was little change in political practice. Power was concentrated to three clans. The party developed an intelligence branch, Baadhista xisbiga, which worked parallel to state intelligence and paramilitary groups. At most SRSP had around 20,000 members. The SRSP held its 3rd Congress in November 1986. A major reshuffle of the Central Committee took place.

Role in Somali government

The Seventh Article of the 1979 constitution of the Somali Democratic Republic clarified the role of the SRSP:

Authority and Leadership of the Party
The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party shall be the only legal party in the Somali Democratic Republic; no other party or political organisation may be established.

The Somali Revolutionary Socialist party shall have supreme authority of political and socio-economic leadership in the Somali Democratic Republic.