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Muslim World Study:
Somalia
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Background:
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The regime of Mohamed SIAD Barre was ousted
in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy
have followed in the years since. In May of 1991, northern
clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that
now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi
Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized
by any government, this entity has maintained a stable
existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling
clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British,
Russian, and American military assistance programs. The
regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug comprise a
neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland,
which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not aim
at independence; it has also made strides towards
reconstructing a legitimate, representative government, but
has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border
with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool
and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian
effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine
conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having
suffered significant casualties, order still had not been
restored. The mandate of the Transitional National
Government (TNG), created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti,
expired in August 2003. New Somali President Abdullahi YUSUF
Ahmed has formed a new Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
consisting of a 275-member parliament. It was established in
October 2004 to replace the TNG but has not yet moved to
Mogadishu. Discussions regarding the establishment of a new
government in Mogadishu are ongoing in Kenya. Numerous
warlords and factions are still fighting for control of the
capital city as well as for other southern regions.
Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further
complicates the picture. |
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Location:
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Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden
and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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10 00 N, 49 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 637,657 sq
km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km,
Kenya 682 km |
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Coastline:
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3,025 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea:
200 nm |
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Climate:
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principally desert; December to February -
northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very
hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in
the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and
humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to
hills in north |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m |
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Natural resources:
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uranium and largely unexploited reserves of
iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas,
likely oil reserves |
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.29% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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2,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over
eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
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Environment - current issues:
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famine; use of contaminated water contributes
to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on Horn of Africa along
southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red
Sea and Suez Canal |
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Population:
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8,591,629
note: this estimate was derived from an official
census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population
counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of
nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and
clan warfare (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 44.5%
(male 1,918,209/female 1,905,974)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 2,278,406/female 2,263,602)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 96,256/female 129,182)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 17.59 years
male: 17.53 years
female: 17.65 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.38% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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45.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Death rate:
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16.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 116.7
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 126.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 107.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
48.09 years
male: 46.36 years
female: 49.87 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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43,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever are
high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali |
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Ethnic groups:
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Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15%
(including Arabs 30,000) |
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim |
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Languages:
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Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15
and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form:
none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
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Government type:
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no permanent national government;
transitional, parliamentary federal government |
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Capital:
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Mogadishu |
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Administrative divisions:
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18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka);
Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,
Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,
Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool,
Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed |
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Independence:
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1 July 1960 (from a merger of British
Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June
1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from
the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to
form the Somali Republic) |
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National holiday:
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Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July
(1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland |
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Constitution:
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25 August 1979, presidential approval 23
September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing
institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government,
is currently ongoing |
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Legal system:
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no national system; Shari'a and secular
courts are in some localities |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a new
Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member
parliament was established in October 2004 but remains
resident in Nairobi, Kenya, and has not extablished
effective governance inside Somalia
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI
(since 24 December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader
of the Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by
the Transitional Federal Assembly |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional
Federal Assembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats
assigned to each of four large clan groups (Darod,
Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye) with the remaining 31 seats
divided between minority clans |
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Judicial branch:
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following the breakdown of the central
government, most regions have reverted to local forms of
conflict resolution, either secular, traditional clan-based
arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for
appeal of all sentences |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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numerous clan and subclan factions are
currently vying for power |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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Somalia does not have an embassy in the US
(ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the TNG and other
factions have representatives in Washington and at the
United Nations |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Somalia;
US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi,
Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Gigira, Nairobi; mailing
address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254]
(20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157 |
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Flag description:
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light blue with a large white five-pointed
star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the
UN |
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Government - note:
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although an interim government was created in
2004 other governing bodies continue to exist and control
various cities and regions of the country, including the
self-declared Republic of Somaliland, and traditional clan
and faction strongholds |
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Economy - overview:
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Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its
deep political divisions. The northwestern area has declared
its independence as the "Republic of Somaliland"; the
northeastern region of Puntland is a semi-autonomous state;
and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the
struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in
part because much activity is local and relatively easily
protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with
livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about
65% of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on
Somali livestock, because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, has
severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who
are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a
large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish,
charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while
sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the
principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based
on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been
looted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy,
Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow.
Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most
major cities and offer the lowest international call rates
on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector,
money exchange services have sprouted throughout the
country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in
remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a
variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets.
Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security.
The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however,
have interfered with any broad-based economic development
and international aid arrangements. In 2004 Somalia's
overdue financial obligations to the IMF continued to grow.
Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and
inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late December
2004, a major tsunami took an estimated 150 lives and caused
destruction of properity in coastal areas. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$4.597 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.8% (2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%,
industry and services 29% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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note - businesses print their own money, so
inflation rates cannot be sensibly determined (2004 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of
NA |
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Agriculture - products:
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cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn,
coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans;
fish |
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Industries:
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a few light industries, including sugar
refining, textiles, wireless communication |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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240.3 million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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223.5 million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
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Exports:
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$79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal,
scrap metal |
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Exports - partners:
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UAE 39.3%, Thailand 24.3%, Yemen 12.2%, Oman
4.7% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
construction materials, qat |
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Imports - partners:
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Djibouti 30.1%, Kenya 13.7%, India 8.6%,
Brazil 8.5%, Oman 4.4%, UAE 4.2% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$3 billion (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$60 million (1999 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Somali shilling (SOS) |
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Currency code:
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SOS |
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Exchange rates:
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Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000
(November 2000), 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997
est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared
independent country not recognized by any foreign
government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling
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Fiscal year:
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NA |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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100,000 (2002 est.) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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35,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
the public telecommunications system was almost completely
destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; private
wireless companies offer service in most major cities and
charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been
established in Mogadishu and in several other population
centers
international: country code - 252; international
connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM
in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland (2001) |
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Radios:
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470,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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4
note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)
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Televisions:
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135,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.so |
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Internet hosts:
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4 (2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and
Mogadishu) (2000) |
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Internet users:
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89,000 (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo),
Merca, Mogadishu |
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Airports:
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60 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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A Somali National Army was attempted under
the interim government; numerous factions and clans maintain
independent militias, and the Somaliland and Puntland
regional governments maintain their own security and police
forces |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (est.) (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49:
1,787,727 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49:
1,022,360 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$18.9 million (2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2003) |
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Transnational Issues |
Somalia |
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Disputes - international:
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"Somaliland" secessionists provide port
facilities to land-locked Ethiopia and establish commercial
ties with regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland"
"governments" seek support from neighboring states in their
secessionist aspirations and in conflicts with each other;
Ethiopia has only an administrative line with the Oromo
region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with
local Somali clans opposed to the unrecognized Somali
Interim Government, which plans eventual relocation from
Kenya to Mogadishu; rival militia and clan fighting in
southern Somalia periodically spills over into Kenya; most
of the remaining 23,000 Somali refuges in Ethiopia are
expected to be repatriated in 2005 |
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Refugees and internally displaced
persons:
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IDPs: 375,000
(civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources)
(2004) |
Muslim World Study Pages
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