Somalia
no permanent national government
Somalia as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed for eleven 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 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 legitimate, representative government. Puntland also claims Sool and eastern 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.
A Transitional National Government (TNG) was created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti which was attended by a broad representation of Somali clans. The TNG has a three-year mandate to create a permanent national Somali government. The TNG does not recognize Somaliland as an independent republic but so far has been unable to reunite either Somaliland or Puntland with the unstable regions in the south. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism complicate the picture.
Geography
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 637,657 sq km
Climate
- 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
Natural resources
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Natural hazards
- recurring droughts;
- frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
- floods during rainy season
Environment - current issues
- famine;
- use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems;
- deforestation;
- overgrazing;
- soil erosion;
- desertification
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
People
18 fieldsNote
Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44.7% (male 1,737,491; female 1,730,237)
- 15-64 years:
- 52.6% (male 2,054,243; female 2,019,980)
- 65 years and over:
- 2.7% (male 92,617; female 118,742) (2002 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
No permanent national government; ABDIKASSIM Salad Hassan (since 26 August 2000); Prime Minister HASSAN Abshir Farah (since 12 November 2001)
19 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Somalia
- former:
- Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
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 has a mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections within three years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- ABDIKASSIM Salad Hassan (since 26 August 2000);
- note - Interim President ABDIKASSIM was chosen for a three-year term by a 245-member National Assembly serving as a transitional government;
- the present political situation is still unstable, particularly in the south, with interclan fighting and random banditry
- election results:
- ABDIKASSIM Salad Hassan was elected president of an interim government at the Djibouti-sponsored Arta Peace Conference on 26 August 2000 by a broad representation of Somali clans that comprised a transitional National Assembly
- head of government:
- Prime Minister HASSAN Abshir Farah (since 12 November 2001)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and sworn in on 20 October 2000;
- as of 1 January 2002, the Cabinet was in caretaker status following a no-confidence vote in October 2001 that ousted HASSAN's predecessor
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha Shacbiga note: fledgling parliament; a transitional 245-member National Assembly began to meet on 13 August 2000 in the town of Arta, Djibouti and is now based in Mogadishu
Judicial branch
following the breakdown of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences
Political pressure groups and leaders
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- the US does not have an embassy in Somalia;
- US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Mombasa Road;
- mail address: ;
- 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
An interim Transitional National Government - with a president, prime minister, and 245-member National Assembly - was established in Mogadishu in October 2000. However, other governing bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of the country, including Somaliland, Puntland, and traditional clan and faction strongholds.
Economy
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources and is prone to drought.
32 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Electricity
Economy - overview
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources and is prone to drought. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by civil war since 1991. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings.
Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, fish, 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 $200 million and $500 million in remittances annually.
Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and security is provided by militias. Ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements. The failure of spring rains caused major food shortages in the south in 2001. Economic data is scare and prone to a wide margin of error.
Industries
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down), wireless communication
Agriculture - products
- cattle, sheep, goats;
- bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans;
- fish
Imports - commodities
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat (1995)
Exchange rates
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
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone 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:
- international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite (2001)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Military
5 fieldsMilitary branches
- A Somali National Army is being reformed 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
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- most of the southern half of the boundary with Ethiopia is a provisional administrative line;
- in the Ogaden, regional states have established a variety of conflicting relationships with the Transitional National Government in Mogadishu, feuding factions in Puntland region, and the economically stabile break-away "Somaliland" region;
- Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while politically supporting Somali Transitional National Government in Mogadishu;
- arms smuggling and Oromo rebel activities prompt strict border regime with Kenya
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Somalia.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/somalia/2002.