Somalia

Background: 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.
Location: Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia. Area: Total: 637,657 sq km, water: 10,320 sq km, land: 627,337 sq km. Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than Texas. Land boundaries: Total: 2,340 km, border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km. Coastline: 3,025 km.
Climate and Terrain: Climate: Principally desert. Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north. Natural resources: Uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves.
People: Population: 8 ,025,190. Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000). Religions: Sunni Muslim. Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English.
Government: Government type: No permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary national government. Capital: Mogadishu.
Economy overview: Economy - overview: Its deep political divisions are driving Somalia's economic fortunes. 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. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal.
Statistics: Telephones - main lines in use: 15,000 . Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland. Radios: 470,000. Television broadcast stations: 4. Televisions: 135,000. Internet users: 200. Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 22,100 km, paved: 2,608 km. unpaved: 19,492 km. Airports - with paved runways: 6, with unpaved runways: 54.