Somali Democratic Republic

Somali Democratic Republic
*Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed* (Somali)
جمهورية الصومال الديمقراطية (Arabic)
*Repubblica Democratica Somala* (Italian)
Somali Democratic Republic Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed (Somali); جمهورية الصومال الديمقراطية (Arabic); Repubblica Democratica Somala (Italian);
1969–1991
	Flag Coat of arms
	Anthem: Soomaaliya Ha Noolaato (Somali); "National anthem of Somalia"
Capital	Mogadishu
Official languages	Somali
Common languages	Somali; Arabic; Italian;
Religion	Sunni Islam
Demonym	Somali
Government	Unitary socialist state
President
• 1969–1991	Siad Barrea
Vice President
• 1976–1991	Mohammad Ali Samatar
Historical era	Cold War; Arab Cold War
• Somali coup d'état	21 October 1969
• Ogaden War	13 July 1977
• 1978 Somali coup attempt	9 April 1978
• 1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War	1982-1983
• Somali Civil War	26 January 1991
Area
• Total	637,657 km2 (246,201 sq mi) (40th)
Population
• 1972	2,941,000
Currency	Somali shilling (SOS)
Calling code	252
ISO 3166 code	SO
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Somali Republic
Interim Government of Somalia
Republic of Somaliland
Today part of	Somalia; Somalilandb
	Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council from 1969 to 1976 and after 1980.; Somaliland is not internationally recognized, As of 26 December 2025, Israel is the only United Nations member state that recognises the Republic of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state. Somalilands territory is considered part of Somalia. Somaliland authorities, however, hold de facto power in the region.;

The Somali Democratic Republic (SDR) (Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed; Arabic: جمهورية الصومال الديمقراطية; Italian: Repubblica Democratica Somala) was a socialist state with a unitary system of government in Somalia that existed from 1969 to 1991.

Established in October 1969, the Somali Democratic Republic emerged following a coup d'état led by Major General Siad Barre and the Somali military. Barre's administration and the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party governed Somalia for the next 21 years and is characterised with modernisation efforts, the standardisation of the Somali language and infrastructural projects.