The Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) that assumed power was led by Major General Siad Barre.
[7] The SRC subsequently renamed the country the Somali Democratic Republic,[8][9] arrested members of the former government, banned political parties,[10] dissolved the parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the Constitution.
The Constitution of 1979 initially called for the president to be elected to a six-year, renewable term of office by a two-thirds majority vote of the legislature.
After Barre's overthrow, a provisional government called for a new Constitution to replace the 1979 document that had been the law of the land at the time of his ouster.
[6] The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia promotes human rights, the rule of law, general standards of international law, justice, participatory consultative and inclusive government, the separation of powers between the legislature, executive and an independent judiciary, in order to ensure accountability, efficiency and responsiveness to the interests of the people.
The presidential powers of the head of state are far reaching and are carried out in accordance with the Constitution and the other laws of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
These powers include appointing the head of the executive (Prime Minister), serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and declaring a state of emergency and war.