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NAVIGATION
Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
GOVERNMENT
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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 national 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 Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 has a mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections within three years |
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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: 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 is 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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 |
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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, 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) |
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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 Mombasa Road; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 537800; FAX [254] (2) 537810 |
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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 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
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $4.1 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $550 (2001 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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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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over 100% (businesses print their own money) |
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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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Budget:
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revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
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Industries:
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a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down), 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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245.1 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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227.9 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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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 (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (January 2002 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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2.832 billion cu m (January 2002 est.) |
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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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Exports:
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$126 million f.o.b. (2001 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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Saudi Arabia 32%, UAE 32%, Yemen 17%, Thailand 2%, Bahrain 2% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$343 million f.o.b. (2001 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 28%, Kenya 13%, India 10%, Brazil 6%, Thailand 5% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.6 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$60 million (1999 est.) |
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Currency:
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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) |
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Fiscal year:
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NA |