Barre's Supreme Revolutionary Council transformed the country into a single-party Marxist-Leninist state.[15][16][17] While a public direct election for President was held in December 1986, Somalia was a one-party state at the time; the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP) was the only legal political party, and incumbent Siad Barre was the only candidate. He was elected with no opponents, and fewer than 1,500 protest votes opposing his candidacy.[18] In 1991, Somalia's central government collapsed due to his ousting, spurring a civil war that would last more than 25 years.[5]