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Somalia is an East African country. Located in the
so-called Horn of Africa, it covers an area of 637 657
km2. It is bathed by the Gulf of Adem to the
north, and the Indian Ocean to the east and southeast,
and is bordered by Kenya to the southwest, Ethiopia to
the west, and Djibouti to the northwest. The main cities
are Mogadishu, the capital, with 1 234 800 inhabitants
(2004), Hargeysa (328 000 inhab.), Berbera (232 500
inhab.), Kismaayo (183 300 inhab.) And Marka (230 100
inhab.). The country is arid, consisting of plateaus
covered with sparse vegetation. It is mountainous to the
north, the highest being Surud Cad, with 2407 meters of
altitude. The country's two rivers, the Jubba and the
Shabeelle, are used for irrigating crops.
Climate
The climate is desert in most of the territory, but on
the coast the effect of monsoons is felt.
Economy
The main activities are agriculture, cattle raising and
fishing. The country's socio-economic situation is a
real paradox, with inflation, unemployment, malnutrition
and the difficulties of humanitarian aid coexisting with
a flourishing trade, especially in cities. Somalia's
main trading partners are Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Djibouti
and Yemen. Environmental indicator: the value of carbon
dioxide emissions, per capita , has not been
attributed.
Population
Most of the Somali population is nomadic, with few
possessions besides goats, sheep and camels. The
sedentary population is concentrated in the mountains,
river valleys and coastal cities. In 2006, Somalia's
population was 8 863 338 inhabitants, which corresponds
to a population density of 13.47 inhab./km2. The
birth and death rates are respectively 45.13% and
16.63%. Average life expectancy is 48.47 years. Neither
the value of the Human Development Index (HDI) nor the
value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG)
have been attributed (2001). It is estimated that, in
2025, the population will be 14 862 000 inhabitants.
In the 14th century the Somalis were converted to
Islam by the Arabs who crossed the Red Sea, so Sunni
Islam is practically the only religion in the
country. They have since shown considerable cultural
unity, even though tribal groups are the basis of Somali
society. The official languages are Somali and Arabic.
History
Somali nationalism has already led to a long conflict
with Ethiopia and difficulties in understanding with
Kenya. At issue is the obtaining of an agreement on the
populations living in the border area of Kenya. The
Ogaden region was granted to Ethiopia by the British in
1948. This was the reason for the continuing conflict
between Somalia and Ethiopia that would culminate in
April 1988.
Somalia's strategic position has made the country an
important player in the game of East-West rivalries. The
country opted for socialism after a coup in 1969 and was
in strict political and military collaboration with the
Eastern Bloc to ensure its development. In 1977 a break
with the Soviet Union took place because it supported
the revolutionary regime in Addis Ababa. After this
rupture, Somalia began to focus on the West. However,
the war with Ethiopia has generated thousands of
refugees and a serious economic crisis. The country only
survived thanks to help from abroad.
Since 1978, the coups d'état have been consecutive
and culminated in the military dictatorship of General
Muhammad Siyad Barre. In January 1991, Siyad Barre left
the country and the civil war broke out again. The
country was in a state of complete anarchy. The United
Nations established forces in the country between 1993
and 1995, but with its withdrawal, public order
disturbances returned. A transitional national
government was created in August 2000, but was still
unable to bring together the different factions that
divide the country.
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