By 1966 Somalia was the only country preserving liberal parliamentary democracy

Evidence

According to a radio transmission from the English BBC from the night between the 28th and the 29th of the current month [June] that was heard in Mogadishu, and during the 45 minutes, 4 to 5 experts in Somali affairs interrogated by the British broadcasting depicted Somali democracy in a good light, claiming that the Somali republic enjoys immense prestige in the world and in the United Nations. The comments originated in the recent resignation of the government and my having sent them back to parliament for a vote of confidence, and I agree that our Somalia has by now remained the only country that has preserved liberal and parliamentary democracy, but as far as the prestige of the world, I don’t count on it so much. If our country does get this prestige, it is also due to the fact that up until now we have been able to not ‘sing’ for anyone of the hegemonic powers, [and thereby] maintain friendly relations with each one of them!” Osman, diary, June 30, 1966. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1453

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader narrative of how Somalia’s democratic era (1960-1969) developed and the regional/global prestige Somalia held before the 1969 coup. — connects to: Somali governments maintained genuine neutrality during the first seven years of independence — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1389; Somalia staged Africa’s first peaceful transfer of presidential power in 1967; Somali pastoral society governs democratically without hierarchical chiefs (+4 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1453

Broader Connections

• Africa saw twenty coups before 1969 while Somalia stayed democratic #corroborates (0.80) — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 695
• Somalia staged Africa’s first peaceful transfer of presidential power in 1967 #exemplifies (0.75)
• The 1964 parliament election was judged the fairest in Somali history #exemplifies (0.70) — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 682
• The Somali process met all three definitional criteria for democracy #corroborates (0.70)
• Somali governments maintained genuine neutrality during the first seven years of independence #expands (0.55) — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1389
• Somalia maintained nonalignment during its first seven years #expands (0.50)
• Somali pastoral society governs democratically without hierarchical chiefs #expands (0.40)