| Common Name: | Somalia |
| Conventional Long Name: | Transitional National Government of the Republic of Somalia |
| P1: | Interim Government of Somalia |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Somalia.svg |
| S1: | Transitional Federal Government of Somalia |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Somalia.svg |
| Flag Alt: | Flag of Somalia |
| Flag: | Flag of Somalia.svg |
| Capital: | Mogadishu |
| Common Languages: | SomaliArabic |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Government Type: | Provisional government |
| Anthem: | (2000) Heesta calanka Soomaaliya (2000–2004) Soomaaliyeey toosoo |
| Title Leader: | President |
| Leader1: | Abdiqasim Salad Hassan |
| Year Leader1: | 2000-2004 |
| Event Start: | Somalia National Peace Conference |
| Year Start: | 2000 |
| Date Start: | 5 May |
| Event End: | Transitional charter |
| Year End: | 2004 |
| Date End: | 14 October |
The Transitional National Government (TNG) was the internationally recognized central government of Somalia from 2000 to 2004.
The TNG was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Arta, Djibouti.[1]
In principle, the Transitional National Charter, which gave rise to the TNG, recognized de facto regional autonomy and the existence of new entities in the north of the former Somalia, home to relatively homogenous clans. In some parts of Somalia, however, decentralization meant state authority disintegrated.[2]
Somalia's powerful neighbor, Ethiopia, immediately opposed the TNG, fearing that Somali reunification would reignite claims on the Ogaden region. In response, Ethiopia supported groups in Somalia that resisted the TNG and actively sponsored the formation of opposition alliances to preserve its strategic interests. Most notably, it sponsored the creation of a powerful anti-TNG warlord coalition called the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) which was founded in Ethiopia during mid-2001. The SRRC served as the main political and military opposition to the TNG. The emergence of the TNG alarmed Puntland's ruling government, who saw feared that a reunified Somalia would be oriented to the south. In January 2001, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed requested the United Nations 'review its decision' to recognize the TNG and protested to the Arab League about support being given to the government. Yusuf also joined the Ethiopian warlord coalition in order to undermine the TNG.[3] After the 9/11 attacks, the Ethiopian government openly accused the TNG leadership of being Islamic extremists who were pro-Bin Laden[4] and the SRRC called on the international community to intervene in Somalia and set up a transitional government akin to Afghanistan.[5]
According to Le Sage, the TNG in 2002 had all of the organs of a national government, including executive and judicial structures as well as a parliament, a police force and standing army. However, its institutions remained very weak on account of a dearth of basic office equipment, lack of territorial control, and inability to raise tax revenue. Due to these limitations, the TNG was unable to provide basic social services. Ministers and legislators also often expressed frustration at being shut out of the real decision-making process, and of often receiving irregular and limited salaries. As such, Le Sage argues that the public officials served more as symbols of the potential for a broad-based, national government.[6] The TNG's internal problems led to the replacement of the prime minister four times in three years, and the administrative body's reported bankruptcy in December 2003. Its mandate ended at the same time.[7]
A strong Somali state not dependent on Addis Ababa was perceived as a security threat to the Ethiopian state,[8] [9] and consequently the Ethiopian government heavily backed the formation of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004 and the presidency of Abdullahi Yusuf on the grounds that he would give up Somalia's long standing claim to the Ogaden.[10]
On October 10, 2004, legislators elected Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as the first president of the transitional federal government (TFG), the TNG's successor.[11] He received 189 votes from the TFG Parliament, while the closest contender, erstwhile Somali ambassador to Washington Abdullahi Ahmed Addou, got 79 votes in the third round of voting. The then incumbent President of Somalia, TNG leader Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, peacefully withdrew his candidature.[12] [13]
See also: History of the transitional federal government, Republic of Somalia.