Somalia, in the 1970's and 1980's, was comprised of just one political party. That political party was The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party. "The 1979 constitution gave the president and his supporters control of the government of Somalia"(Lewis). There were no courts. "Islamic law prevailed and resulted in the violation of human rights"(Lewis). Civil wars during the 1980's led to the breakdown of the centralized national government by the early 1990's. The 1990's brought many clans and alliances fighting to gain control of the country. "In the north the Republic of Somaliland and Puntland became independent countries though neither were recognized by the rest of the world"(Lewis). Militia groups continued to fight for control