Somalia’s early democratic governance outpaced other African states in practicing constitutional separation of powers.

Evidence

Hussen’s government and its policies turned the Somali constitution and its democratic principles into reality in the political life of the country more so than any other country in Africa at the time. The division of labor between the executive branch and the legislature, between the political authority and the civil service, and the independence of the judiciary were remarkable achievements by any standards. Somalia’s challenge was how to sustain and advance these wonderful democratic structures and political practices. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 838