Somalia in Transition

This article deals with the issue of political development in former post-colonial state in the Horn of Africa, Somalia, during last decade. Since tha fall of Slyad Barre's regime in 1991 Somalia has become typical collapsed state without any central government for more than ten years. Subsequent clan-based conflicts and fighting among rival faction leaders erupted. The cease-fire efforts of the United Nations during 1992 - 1995 peace enforcement missions UNOSOM I and II were not successful as well as the multinational forces concerted in UNITAF mission led by US. In 1991 the Somali National Movement proclaimed an independent state, the Republic of Somaliland, in northwest regions but it has received no international recignition yet. Autonomous state of Puntland (created in 1998 by the Somali Salvation Democratic Front) supports federal solution to Somali's political problems. One of the most important events in recent political progress was the foundation of the Transitional National Government (TNG) and the election of president Abdiqasim Salad Hassan as the head of the state in 2000. TNG has a three year mandate and this new administration also occupies Somalia's seat in UN although it controls only about a half of the capital Mogadishu and let alone nearly the rest of the country.