The dual judicial system inherited by the Somali Republic at the time of independence

[Deeq A.]

The new Republic of Somalia, born in July 1960, from the union between the two States of Somaliland and Somalia, was defined as “an independent, democratic and unitary Republic” (article 1 of the Constitution) In practice, however, at the beginning,, the only unitary elements were at the top of the state pyramid: there was a single President of the Republic; a National Assembly comprising the former Legislative Assemblies of Somaliland and Somalia; a Cabinet whose members were from the two parties of the territory; and a Supreme Court with jurisdiction over the whole country. The Northern and Southern Courts had been separate, operating under different procedures, applying different laws and using different languages. Before integration, the Indian Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes were in force in the Northern regions and the Italian Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes in the South.

Source: Hiiraan Online