Seven tribal leaders in coastal towns joined together to form a loose federation, each retaining near-absolute power over their territory.

She revealed that the clan was a loose federation of interlinked families with no boss of bosses, but which came together when threatened.

He describes one of his key challenges as being to transform the group from a relatively loose federation of affiliated subsidiaries into 'a much more integrated global enterprise'.

In the 1990s, the need for an organisation other than a loose federation was noted.

The state was a loose federation of nine provinces, each headed by chief.