Country	Somalia
Capital	Mogadishu
Continent	Africa
Currency	Somali Shilling(SOS)
Languages	Somali & Arabic

Locaion

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic Co ordinates

10 00 N, 49 00 E

Land Boundries

Total:2,340 km
Border countries:Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Geography - note

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

Population

10,112,453
Country comparison to the world:82
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 2010 est.)

Nationality

Noun:Somali(s)
Adjective:Somali

Ethnic groups

Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Religions

Sunni Muslim

Languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Country Name

Conventional long form:none
Conventional short form:Somalia
Local long form:Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
Local short form:Soomaaliya
Former:Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

Government Type

no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

Capital

Name:Mogadishu
Geographic coordinates:2 04 N, 45 22 E
Time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)

National Holiday

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

Constitution

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Legal system

no national system; a mixture of English common law, Italian law, Islamic sharia, and Somali customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:Transitional Federal President Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed (since 31 January 2009); note - a transitional governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004; in 2009, the TFI's were given a two-year extension to October 2011
Head of government:Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali SHARMARKE (since 13 February 2009)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed elected president by the expanded Transitional Federal Assembly in Djibouti

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly
note:unicameral Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA) (550 seats; 475 members appointed according to the 4.5 clan formula, with the remaining 75 seats reserved for civil society and business persons)

Judicial branch

following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional Somali customary law, or sharia (Islamic) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Political Parties and Leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

Other: numerous clan and sub-clan factions exist both in support and in opposition to the transitional government

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the Transitional Federal Government is represented in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Flag description

Three light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

Video

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Government - Government - Somalia President - Somalia Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  Aayaha AllPuntland Banadir Garowe Online - Somalia Hiiraan Online
                              HornAfrik Inside Somalia PuntlandPost Somali Press SomaliNet
                              Somaliweyn Wardheernews Ayaamaha Balcad Goobjoog
                              Radio Banadir Shabelle
Tourism -         Ministry Of Tourism

Google News

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, a Somali-Canadian economist, named Prime Minister ... - National Post National Post Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, a Somali-Canadian economist, named Prime Minister ... National Post A Somali-Canadian economist was named prime minister of Somalia on Thursday, a key position in a government under pressure to rebuild, curb corruption and subdue armed Islamists. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, 54, studied economics at the University of ... Somali president appoints new prime ministerAljazeera.com SOMALIA: Profile of New Prime Minister of SomaliaHorseed Media SOMALIA: Economist Replaces Ousted Shirdon as Prime MinisterSomaliland Sun AllAfrica.com all 68 news articles » The corruption overburdened government of Somalia - SomalilandPress SomalilandPress The corruption overburdened government of Somalia SomalilandPress Somalia, ex-Italian Somalia, is the most corrupt state in the world, according to the latest index compiled by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International. U.N. and EU are trying to paint a dark picture of the corruption in Somalia ... and more » SOMALIA: crisis-response shows State institutions strengthening, UN official ... - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: crisis-response shows State institutions strengthening, UN official ... Raxanreeb Online Mogadishu (RBC) The top United Nations official in Somalia today, briefing the Security Council from Mogadishu, said that a comprehensive political, military and development approach is needed to tackle terrorism in the country, where despite ... People of Somalia 'Desperate' to Build Strong State Institutions After 22 ...AllAfrica.com Somalia making slow but steady progress, UN saysUPI.com UN: Major offensives planned in Somalia areas held by al-Shabab militantsMinneapolis Star Tribune all 40 news articles » Somalia joins the rest of the World to mark the Human Rights Day - somalicurrent somalicurrent Somalia joins the rest of the World to mark the Human Rights Day somalicurrent Somalia today joined the rest of the World to mark the Human Rights Day, among events highlighting the country's recovery from decades of war. With support from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the country now enjoys relative peace and ... Somalia: President Mohamud Cancelled a Visit, Expected to Announce a New ...Horseed Media SOMALIA: AMISOM head in Somalia promises protection of Human RightsRaxanreeb Online Mohamud Receives Credentials From German, Egyptian AmbassadorsAllAfrica.com Midnimo Information Center all 18 news articles » SOMALIA: Al Shabab says it has gunned down eight Kenyan police officers - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: Al Shabab says it has gunned down eight Kenyan police officers Raxanreeb Online Barawe (RBC) The militant group in Somalia, Al Shabab has claimed on Wednesday that it carried out an ambush on kenyan police vehicle near the town of Liboye on Tuesday killing at least eight soldiers. A spokesman for Al Shabab Abduasis Abu Muscab ... 10 Killed in Hiraan Clan Fighting, Al Shabaab Attacks Baidoa - AllAfrica.com 10 Killed in Hiraan Clan Fighting, Al Shabaab Attacks Baidoa AllAfrica.com Meanwhile in Baidoa, the provincial capital of Bay region in southern Somalia residents said suspected Al Shabaab militants attacked buildings housing Somali Federal Government officials. Baidoa resident, Ali Madey told Garowe Online that men chanting ... Somalia: 10 killed in Hiraan clan fighting, Al Shabaab attacks BaidoaGarowe Online all 2 news articles » Kenya police in deadly ambush near Somalia border - BBC News BBC News Kenya police in deadly ambush near Somalia border BBC News Gunmen kill eight Kenyans, including five policemen, after ambushing a police patrol near the border with Somalia, police say. Several people were also wounded in the attack close to the north-eastern town of Liboi, police added. Liboi is used by Kenya ... and more » Somalia: Spectre of political meltdown - Aljazeera.com Aljazeera.com Somalia: Spectre of political meltdown Aljazeera.com A stable executive authority still remains elusive for Somalia. On December 2, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon's government collapsed after the parliament passed a motion of "No Confidence". The latest rancorous drama between President Hassan Sheikh ... SOMALIA: A Letter to President Hassan - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: A Letter to President Hassan Raxanreeb Online Opinion This is a letter to President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud. Greetings and good health, Mr. President. It is our hope that you have put your New Year's resolution in place. We acknowledge the daunting task before you—naming a new prime minister. SOMALIA: Briefing to the Security Council by Nicholas Kay, Special Representa ... - Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: Briefing to the Security Council by Nicholas Kay, Special Representa ... Raxanreeb Online The last three months in Somalia have been eventful. When I briefed the Council on 12 September, I warned that the impact of Somalia remaining a stronghold for terrorists would be felt well beyond Somalia's borders; “From Bamako to Bangui” was the ...