Independent Somalia’s first nine years had no coups, civil wars, or splits

Evidence

In the arena of African politics, Somalia has fared well. No coups, no civil wars, no internecine splits have marred its nine-year history. Its people—united by language, culture, and religion—form a national state which will probably remain intact for the foreseeable future. Elections for the presidency and parliament have demonstrated the system’s ability to transfer power democratically. The country’s ex-president and two former prime ministers are today all in parliament—not imprisoned, exiled, or dead. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1075