ief of state: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note
- a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member
parliament was established in October 2004 replacing the
Transitional National Government created in 2000
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland
region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal
Government
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 3
November 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal
Government replaced the Transitional National Government created in
2000; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each of
four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye) with
the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans

Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of national government, most regions have
reverted to either Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal
of all sentences, or traditional clan-based arbitration

Political parties and leaders:
none

Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8
May 1991); note - the TNG and other factions have representatives in
Washington and at the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at Mombasa Road;
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (2) 537800; FAX [254] (2) 537810

Flag description:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue
field influenced by the flag of the UN

Government - note:
although an interim government was created in 2000 other governing
bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of
the country, including Somaliland, Puntland, and traditional clan
and faction strongholds

Econ