Somalia
no permanent national government
Somalia as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 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 twelve 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, expires in August 2003 and a new interim government was being created at peace talks held 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.
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
19 fieldsNote
Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44.8% (male 1,802,154; female 1,792,749)
- 15-64 years:
- 52.5% (male 2,120,934; female 2,093,699)
- 65 years and over:
- 2.7% (male 93,682; female 121,972) (2003 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:
- 0.77 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2003 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 - as of December 2002, there was no executive branch in southern Somalia;
- Interim President ABDIKASSIM was chosen for a three-year term by a 245-member National Assembly serving as a transitional government but has little power and was due to leave office in August 2003;
- the political situation, particularly in the south, with interclan fighting and random banditry, remains fluid
- 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 National Assembly 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 either Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences, or traditional clan-based arbitration
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 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: ;
- 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
Economy
Somalia's economic fortunes are being driven by its deep political divisions.
38 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Somalia's economic fortunes are being driven by its deep political divisions. The northern area has declared its independence as "Somaliland"; the central area, Puntland, is a self-declared 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 $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. The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements. In 2002 Somalia's overdue financial obligations to the IMF continued to grow.
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
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
8 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
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland (2001)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Military
5 fieldsMilitary 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
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Somalia.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/somalia/2003.