The Somali Democratic Republic was a state in the Horn of Africa that existed from 1960 until 1991. It was formed after the unification of British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. The capital city is Mogadishu, which served as the political and economic center of the country. The government was initially a parliamentary democracy but later transitioned to a socialist regime under Siad Barre. In 1991, the Somali Democratic Republic collapsed due to civil war and political instability, leading to the rise of various factions and warlords. This resulted in a prolonged period of conflict and humanitarian crises, significantly affecting the population and infrastructure of the region.