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| Introduction | Somalia |
| Background: | The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed for thirteen years. 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 civil strife in 2002. 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. Discussions regarding the establishment of a new government are ongoing in Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further complicates the picture. |
| People | Somalia |
| Population: | 8,304,601 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 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,860,451; female 1,849,484) 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 2,197,572; female 2,176,762) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 94,905; female 125,427) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 17.6 years male: 17.5 years female: 17.6 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 3.41% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 46.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 17.3 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 5.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 118.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 108.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 127.95 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 47.71 years male: 46.02 years female: 49.46 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 6.91 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 43,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Major infectious diseases: | typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, rabies, schistosomiasis overall degree of risk: very high (2004) |
| Nationality: | noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali |
| Ethnic groups: | Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000) |
| Religions: | Sunni Muslim |
| Languages: | Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.8% male: 49.7% female: 25.8% (2001 est.) |
| Government | Somalia |
| Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic |
| Government type: | no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary national government |
| Capital: | Mogadishu |
| Administrative divisions: | 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 |
| Independence: | 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) |
| National holiday: | Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland |
| Constitution: | 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 had a three-year mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections, this goal was not achieved but the process is ongoing |
| Legal system: | no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some localities |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | 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 replacing the Transitional National Government created in 2000 election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal Government head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 3 November 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal Government replaced the Transitional National Government created in 2000; 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 |
| Judicial branch: | following the breakdown of national government, most regions have reverted to either Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences, or traditional clan-based arbitration |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power |
| International organization participation: | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at Mombasa Road; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 537800; FAX [254] (2) 537810 |
| Flag description: | light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN |
| Government - note: | although an interim government was created in 2000 other governing bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of the country, including Somaliland, Puntland, and traditional clan and faction strongholds |
| Communications | Somalia |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 100,000 est (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 35,000 (2002) |
| Telephone system: | 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland (2001) |
| Radios: | 470,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 4 note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001) |
| Televisions: | 135,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .so |
| Internet hosts: | 4 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000) |
| Internet users: | 89,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Somalia |
| Highways: | total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.) |
| Ports and harbors: | Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu |
| Merchant marine: | none |
| Airports: | 60 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2438 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | 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.) |
| Military | Somalia |
| Military branches: | 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 |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 2,010,152 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,109,405 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $18.9 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.9% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Somalia |
| Disputes - international: | "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities to land-locked Ethiopia and establish commercial ties with regional states; "Puntland" secessionists clash with "Somaliland" secessionists to establish territorial limits and clan loyalties, each seeking support from neighboring states; Ethiopia maintains only an administrative line with the Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with local Somali clans opposed to the unrecognized Transitional National Government in Mogadishu |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | IDPs: 375,000 (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources) (2004) |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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