Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox political party Template:Siad Barre sidebar The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP, Template:Langx, XHKS, Template:Langx, Template:Lang) was the ruling party of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1976 to 1991.

History

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SRSP poster showing Ogaden as part of Greater Somalia

SRSP was created by the military regime of Siad Barre under Soviet guidance. A founding congress was held in June 1976. The congress elected a Central Committee, with Barre as the party general secretary. A five-member politburo, consisting of Barre, Lt. General Mohammad Ali Samatar (vice president), Major General Hussein Kulmiye Afrah (2nd vice president), Brig. Ahmad Sulaymaan Abdullah and Brig. Ismail Ali Abukor (who was later replaced by Brig. Ahmad Mahamuud Faarah) was constituted. Party cadres also included prominent socialists such as Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Abdulrahman Aidiid, Mohamed F. Weyrah and (a well known socialist economist) and Abukar Sh. M Hussien.Template:Citation needed

During a brief period, prior to the escalation of conflict with Ethiopia in 1977, the SRSP developed relations with foreign communist parties, such as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). CPSU initiated a programme of assistance for the SRSP party school. After relations with the Eastern Bloc were ruptured, a group including SRSP CC member broke away to form splinter groups. This was even further accelerated by 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.Template:Citation needed

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

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SRSP poster

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

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SRSP poster

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

Congresses

No.	Date	Location
1st	27 June–3 July 1976	Mogadishu
Extraordinary Congress	January 1979
2nd	August 1982
3rd	November 1986

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Election	Party candidate	Votes	%	Result
1980	Siad Barre	171	100%	Elected Template:Y
1986		4,887,592	99.97%	Elected Template:Y

Note

After the 1979 election, the People's Assembly elected Barre President on 26 January 1980.

People's Assembly elections

Election	Party leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
1979	Siad Barre	3,982,532	99.95%	Template:Composition bar	Template:Increase 171	Template:Increase 1st	Template:Yes2
1984		4,207,977	99.89%	Template:Composition bar	Template:Steady	Template:Steady 1st	Template:Yes2

See also

• List of Islamic political parties

References

Bibliography

• Encyclopædia Britannica