Somalia
Somalia (
Somali:
Soomaaliya;
Arabic: الصومال,
Al-Ṣūmāl), formerly known as the
Somali Democratic Republic, is a coastal nation at the
Horn of Africa in
East Africa. Continentally, it is bordered by
Ethiopia and
Djibouti on the north and mid-west, by
Kenya on its south-west, and by the
Gulf of Aden on its north, and the
Indian Ocean at its eastern border. It currently exists solely in a
de jure capacity. Somalia has no recognized central government authority nor any other feature associated with an established independent
state.
De facto authority resides in the hands of the governments for the unrecognized entities of
Somaliland and
Puntland, and with other rival
warlords.
Main article: History of Somalia
The independence of the
British Somaliland Protectorate from the
United Kingdom was proclaimed on
June 26,
1960. On
July 1,
1960, unification of the
British and ex-
Italian Somaliland took place. The government was formed by Abdullahi Issa.
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar was appointed as
president and
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke as
prime minister. Later, in
1967, Mohammed
Ibrahim Egal became prime minister in the government appointed by Abdirishid Ali shermarke. Egal was later chosen as president of the self-declared independent
Somaliland. He died in a hospital in
Pretoria on
May 3,
2002.
In late
1969, a
military government assumed power following the assassination of Shermarke, who had been chosen, and served as, President from 1967–1969.
Mohamed Siad Barre, a
general in the armed forces, became president in 1969 following a
coup d'état. The revolutionary army leaders, headed by Major General Mohamed Siyad Barre, who came from the
Marehan clan of
Daarood in Somalia, established large-scale public works programmes. They also successfully implemented an urban and rural
literacy campaign, which helped to dramatically increase the literacy rate from a mere 5% to 55% by the mid-
1980s.
In the meantime, Barre assassinated a major figure in his cabinet, Major General Gabiere, and two other officials. In
1991, first insurgent forces led by
Mohamed Farah Aideed,
warlord and tribal leader for
Hawiye, who was also the leader of the
USC, and Ali Mahdi Mohamed ousted Siad Barre's government. The same year, the northern portion of the country declared its independence as
Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government.
Following the failure of
Operation Restore Hope in
1993, a two-year
UN effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions. The UN contingent included some US troops, some of whom were killed in fighting (along with hundreds of Somalis) after crashing a helicopter in Mogadishu (as shown in the film "
Black Hawk Down").
The UN withdrew in
Operation United Shield by
March 3,
1995, having suffered significant casualties, and the rule of government has not yet been restored.
Yet another
secession from Somalia took place in the northeastern region. The self-proclaimed state took the name
Puntland after declaring "temporary" independence in
1998, with the intention that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government.
A third secession occurred in 1998 with the declaration of the state of
Jubaland. The territory of Jubaland is now encompassed by the state of
Southwestern Somalia and its status is unclear.
A fourth self-proclaimed entity led by the
Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) was set up in 1999. This "temporary" secession was reasserted in
2002, leading to de facto autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. The RRA had originally set up an autonomous administration over the
Bay and
Bakool regions of south and central Somalia in
1999.
Somalia was one of the many countries affected by the
tsunami which struck the
Indian Ocean coast following the
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, destroying entire villages and killing an estimated 300 people.
The
2nd Battle of Mogadishu started in May 2006. The battle is being fought between the
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism or "ARPCT" and militia loyal to
Islamic Courts Union or "ICU". The conflict began in mid-February. As of June 5th, at least 350 people, mostly civilians, have died caught in the crossfire. Mogadishu residents described it as the worst fighting in more than a decade of lawlessness. The Islamists blame the
U.S. for funding warlords in an attempt to prevent them gaining power in the lawless country through its
Central Intelligence Agency. The U.S. government and the CIA have neither admitted nor denied these allegations.
The Somali transitional government president
Abdullahi Yusuf told the BBC the alliance of warlords is not fighting on behalf of the government.
On
5 June,
2006, it was reported that members of the Islamic Militia had taken control of Mogadishu, and Prime Minister
Ali Mohammed Ghedi was seeking to open a dialog with them. Four powerful warlords who had been serving as ministers had been sacked.
[Islamists claim Mogadishu victory, BBC, June 5, 2006] On 14 June 2006 the last ARPCT stronghold in the south, the town of
Jowhar, fell with little resistance to the ICU. Reports had the remaining ARPCT forces fleeing to the east. As of this date the alliance appears near collapse with three warlords having withdrawn and a fourth reported to be considering joining them. The transitional government has approved the intervention of foreign peacekeepers. On
7 July forces in Mogadishu loyal to the last active member of the Alliance,
Abdi Qeybdid, surrendered leaving the ICU in control of 99% of the capital.
[Somali Islamists win city battle, BBC, July 11, 2006]On July 20, 2006, it was reported by the
BBC that a column of 100 Ethiopian military vehicles including
armoured personnel carriers had crossed from the
Ogaden region of
Ethiopia and into
Somalia. This followed advances made by
Islamic Courts Union forces who had advanced to within 60km of the town of Baidoa. Further reports stated that Ethiopian troops had been seen in uniform on the streets of Baidoa. The Ethiopian government denies its forces have entered Somalia.
|
A current factional map over Somali tribes, July 2006 |
CIA.
Somalia has had no effective national government since
1991. In the northwest and northeast, there are breakaway regions namely
Somaliland and
Puntland. In the rest of the country there are various warlords. In 2000, the international community recognised the
Transitional National Government, originally headed by
Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, as the government for the entire country. The government has not even been able to enter the capital because of the violence.
On
October 14,
2004 Somali
members of parliament elected warlord
Abdullahi Yusuf, previously president of Puntland, to be the next president. Because of the situation in Mogadishu, the election was held in a sports centre in
Nairobi,
Kenya. Yusuf was elected transitional President by
Somalia's transitional parliament. He won 189 of the 275 votes from members of parliament. The session of Parliament was also held in neighbouring Kenya. His government is recognized by most western nations as legitimate, although his actual authority is questionable.
Many other small political organizations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from clan-based politics (such as the
United Somali Front). Many of them have come into existence since the new president was chosen.
See also List of notable Somali leaders. |
Map of Somalia including the self-proclaimed boundary of Somaliland |
Somalia is located on the east coast of Africa on and north of the Equator between the
Gulf of Aden on the north and
Indian Ocean on the east. Together with Ethiopia and Djibouti it is often referred to as the
Horn of Africa. It borders
Djibouti on the northwest,
Ethiopia on the west, and
Kenya on southwest. Somalia comprises Italy's former
Trust Territory of Somalia and the former
British Protectorate of Somaliland (now seeking recognition as an independent state). The coastline extends 3,025 kilometres (1,880
mi) -- the longest coastline in Africa.
The northern part of the country is hilly, and in many places the altitude ranges between 900 and 2,100 metres (3,000 ft.-7,000
ft) above sea level. The central and southern areas are flat, with an average altitude of less than 180 metres (600 ft). The
Juba and the
Shebelle Rivers rise in Ethiopia and flow south across the country towards the Indian Ocean. The Shebelle, however, does not reach the sea except during seasons of high rain.
Major climatic factors are a year-round hot climate, seasonal monsoon winds, and irregular rainfall with recurring droughts. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from 30°C to 40°C (85°F-105°F), except at higher elevations and along the east coast. Mean daily minimums usually vary from about 15°C to 30°C (60°F-85°F). The southwest monsoon, a sea breeze, makes the period from about May to October the mildest season at Mogadishu. The December-February period of the northeast monsoon is also relatively mild, although prevailing climatic conditions in Mogadishu are rarely pleasant. The "tangambili" periods that intervene between the two monsoons (October-November and March-May) are hot and humid.
Some of the major clans of Somalia are:
*
Hawiye*
Dir*
Darod*
Rahanweynand the occupational clans:
*Tumaal, Midgaan, Yibir, Eyle, Jaji and Yahar
Main articles: Regions of Somalia, Districts of SomaliaSomalia is divided into 18
regions (sing.
gobolka, pl.
gobollada), and subdivided into
districts.
The
regions are:
Districts: see
Districts of Somalia |
A Somali rancher herds cattle in Kismayo. Livestock accounts for about 40% of Somalia's GDP |
Since the collapse of the state, Somalia has transformed from what Mohamed Siad Barre referred to as "scientific socialism" to a
free market economy. It has long been one of the world's poorest and least developed countries and has relatively few natural resources. It has uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt,
natural gas, likely
oil reserves ([https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html#Geo CIA Factbook]). Somalia's poverty was even further aggravated by the hostilities of the civil war started in 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. After livestock,
bananas are the principal export;
sugar,
sorghum,
maize, and
fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP. Somalia continues to have one of the highest
child mortality rates in the world, with 10% of children dying at birth and 25% of those surviving birth dying before age five. The international aid group,
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has further stated that the level of daily violence due to the lack of government is "catastrophic." According to a report in the APC-EC Courier, published in 1997 by the
Commission of the European Communities in Brussels, "The outside world's picture of Somalia has been distorted by the natural tendency of the foreign media to focus on bad news" and that "[p]eace reigns in most of the country " and "as a result regional and local governments have been able to resume working in many areas." The article quotes former Somalia ambassador to Washington, Omar Mohalim Mohamoud as "Somalis consider themselves born free. To them, the State equals registration, regulation and restriction" and attributes this prejudice against a new central government to the nomadic culture and the bad experiences of the Barre regime. The article concludes by stating that "Somalia can only deal with its massive material and social problems once the pieces of the jigsaw have been fitted back together."
[Horner, Simon. Somalia: Can The Jigsaw be Pieced Together, Africa, Caribbean, Pacific Courier, Commission of the European Communities in Brussels, No. 162, pp. 46 - 66.]There are signs of growth in Somalia. The [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html#Econ CIA Factbook] says:"Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security." Infrastructure, such as roads are as numerous as those in neighboring countries but of much lower quality. A
World Bank report states that the private sector has found it too hard to build roads due to high transaction costs and the fact that those who pay road fees are not the only ones using the road (see
free rider problem), presenting a problem with recuperation of investment. The thriving telecommunications industry is private, offering wireless service and
internet cafés. Competing phone companies have agreed on interconnection standards, which were brokered by the
United Nations funded
Somali Telecom Association.
Electricity is furnished by entrepreneurs, who have purchased generators and divided cities into manageable sectors. In 1989, before the collapse of the government, the national airline had only one airplane. Now there are approximately 15 airlines, over 60 aircraft, 6 international destinations, and more domestic routes. According to a World Bank report, the "private airline business in Somalia is now thriving with more than five carriers and price wars between the companies." The owner of Daallo Airlines says, "Sometimes it's difficult without a government and sometimes it's a plus," but "Corruption is not a problem, because there is no government."
[Africa Open for Business, World Bank, March 18, 2005]The private sector also supplies water. However, a statistic from 2000 indicated that only 21% of the population had access to safe drinking water at that time. With the collapse of the central government, the education system is now private. A World Bank study reports "modest gains in education." As last measured in 2001, primary school enrollment, which stood at 17%, was nearly at pre-war levels, and secondary school enrollment had been increasing since 1998. However, "adult literacy is estimated to have declined from the already low level of 24% in 1989 to 17.1% in 2001." [
1] A more recent 2003 study reported that the literacy rate had risen to 19%. [
2] In comparison, literacy is at 49% in wealthier West Africa and 35% among its neighbours. Higher education ended completely in the civil war of 1991, but
Mogadishu University reopened in 1998 and its first class graduated in 2001. Other universities have opened in other cities. In addition to customer fees, much of the funding for the education system comes from international Islamic charities such as
Al-Islah.[
3]
The main problem affecting economic growth is the lack of stability, or the perception of it. For businesses to operate, it is necessary to provide some level of security and internationally recognized governments are widely perceived as being more reliable in this than the traditional tribal leadership that currently holds sway in Somalia. However, investors are feeling more comfortable lately; for example, a
Coca-Cola bottling plant opened in Mogadishu in 2004.
[BBC News, Coca-Cola Makes Somalia Return by Grant Ferrett]Remittance services has become a large industry in Somalia. Successful people from the world-wide
diaspora who fled because of the war contribute to the economy around $2 billion annually. 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. Wireless communications has also become a giant economic force in Somalia. Because of the war, nobody really knows the size of the economy or how much it is growing.
References:
*
Anarchy and Invention: How Does Somalia's Private Sector Cope without Government? |
This 2002 CIA map shows population density throughout Somalia. |
Somalia has a population of around 8,591,000. However, estimates are very difficult because of the political situation and the mostly nomadic nature of the Somalis. The last census was in
1975. Most outside analysts use this estimate but Somalia is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa and the world. Some estimates range between 6 and 15 million.
Today, about 60% of all Somalis are
nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise
cattle,
camels,
sheep, and
goats. About 25% of the population are settled farmers who live mainly in the fertile agricultural region between the
Juba and
Shebelle rivers in southern Somalia. The remainder of the population (15%-20%) is urban.
Because of the war, Somalia has a large
diaspora community, one of the largest of the whole continent. There are over a million Somalis (including the minorities) outside Africa.
By far the largest ethnic group within Somalia is the
Somali people. The
clan structure is extremely important to their identity and way of life. (see also:
clans of SomaliaOther ethnic groups in the country include:
*
Bajuni people who live in the coastal settlements and
islands south of
Kismayo and are of East African Swahili origin
*
Bravanese who live in
Brawa and are believed to be of mixed Arab, Portuguese and other descent
*
Benadiri (Reer Hamar), an urban people of East African Swahili origin who live in cities in the
Benadir coastal region
*
Bantu agricultural workers who live along the
Juba River*several thousand
Arabs
*some hundreds of
Indians and
Pakistanis
A population of Italian descent, which dated back to Somalia's colonial era, began to emigrate following independence and by the outbreak of war most Italian Somalis had left the country.
100% of all
Somalis living in the region follow the religion of
Islam, and thus making Somalia the only country in
Africa with a 100%
Muslim population. Islam came in the region during the 11th century, Somalia became the first country in
Africa to embrace Islam.
Languages
100% of Somali people speak the Somali language. Most Somalis recognize or understand
Arabic mainly to due to the religious ties in the country due to
Islam. The Somali language consists many Arabic vocabularies e.g The name of 7 days of week are similar to those in Arabic. See also:
Somali languageMain article: Culture of Somalia
*
Islam in Somalia*
List of writers from Somalia*
Music of SomaliaSomalia's public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled; however, private wireless companies exist in most major cities and actually provide better services than in neighbouring countries, despite (or perhaps due to) Somalia's lack of government. Somalia has the cheapest cellular calling rates in Africa, with some companies charging less than a cent a minute. (
Telecoms thriving in lawless Somalia)Companies providing telecommunication services are:
*
Golis Telecom*
SOMTEL*
Galkom*
Global Internet Company*
Hormuud*
Telcom*
Nationlink*
Netco*STG
*
Dahabshiil
*
Battle of Mogadishu*
2nd Battle of Mogadishu*
Building block theory*
Communications in Somalia*
Foreign relations of Somalia*
List of Somali companies*
List of Somalia-related topics*
List of notable Somali leaders*
Military of Somalia*
Transport in Somalia*
Scouting in Somalia*
SomalilandNews media
* AllAfrica.com - Somalia news headline links
* Somalia Online news and discussions
* Somali News on Google
* International Freedom of Expression eXchange - Somalia
;General Information
*BBC News Country Profile - Somalia
*BBC News In Depth - Somalia: Emerging from Ruins?
*Open Directory Project - Somalia directory category
*CBC Digital Archives - The Somalia Affair
*Amnesty International - Somalia
*Operation World - Somalia
* Somali Immigrant Aid Organization
*Pravda - The case of the unwanted US Somalis February 28, 2002
* The Somaliland Times - Thirsty Hyenas Kill 11 People At Ainabo May 20, 2006
