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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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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) |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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