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

Ebola Fears Nix Sierra Leone Troop Trip to Somalia - ABC News Ebola Fears Nix Sierra Leone Troop Trip to Somalia ABC News A military spokesman for the African Union mission in Somalia says the AU has canceled a planned troop rotation by Sierra Leonean forces because of the Ebola outbreak. Col. Ali Aden Houmed told The Associated Press late Thursday that the Union decided ... and more » Insurgents Kill a Lawmaker in Somalia - New York Times Raxanreeb Online Insurgents Kill a Lawmaker in Somalia New York Times MOGADISHU, Somalia — Gunmen killed a Somali lawmaker as he left a mosque in Mogadishu on Friday, officials and witnesses said. The lawmaker, Aden Madeer, was the fifth member of Parliament to die in a violent attack this year. Three assailants ... Somalia lawmaker shot dead by Islamists in MogadishuDeutsche Welle SOMALIA: UN Envoy deeply concerned by murder of Somali MPs following the ...Raxanreeb Online Somalia: Somali Islamists kill fifth lawmaker this yearHorseed Media Somaliland Sun -UPI.com -AllAfrica.com all 97 news articles » Somalia's police boss called 'war criminal' in Canada - Toronto Star Toronto Star Somalia's police boss called 'war criminal' in Canada Toronto Star Mogadishu's new police commissioner was once wanted in Canada as a “war criminal” after a refugee and immigration board concluded he was “responsible for the ruthless torture of prisoners” while serving with Somalia's police force during the 1980s. Amb Kay Lauds Agreement of Intent to Form new Central Somalia Administration - Somaliland Sun Somaliland Sun Amb Kay Lauds Agreement of Intent to Form new Central Somalia Administration Somaliland Sun Somalilandsun– The United Nations envoy in Somalia welcomed today the agreement stating intent and principles for forming a new regional administration in the central part of the country. "This is another encouraging sign for Somalia's progress to meet ... Somalia: US Welcomes New Administration in Central SomaliaGeeska Afrika SOMALIA: UN Representative for Somalia welcomes agreement of intent to form ...Raxanreeb Online Agreement For Establishing New State In Central Somalia SignedRTT News Shanghai Daily (subscription) all 13 news articles » EU increases humanitarian aid to Somalia - Prague Post Prague Post EU increases humanitarian aid to Somalia Prague Post The European Commission is giving an additional €10 million for Somalia in response to the increasing humanitarian needs there. This will help respond to the serious food and nutrition crisis that Somalis are currently facing, and will provide basic ... EU increases humanitarian funding to SomaliaShanghai Daily (subscription) all 8 news articles » SOMALIA : PUNTLAND STRONGLY OPPOSES THE MOGADISHU ... - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA : PUNTLAND STRONGLY OPPOSES THE MOGADISHU ... Raxanreeb Online In reference to the July 30th 2014 Agreement announced in Mogadishu, the Puntland Council of Ministers convened in an extraordinary meeting chaired by the President HE Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas in which the following decisions were taken;. 1. July 2014 Update: US covert actions in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia - Bureau of Investigative Journalism July 2014 Update: US covert actions in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia Bureau of Investigative Journalism At least 32 people died in three CIA drone strikes in Pakistan, making this the bloodiest month since July 2012. The strikes all reportedly occurred in and around Datta Khel in North Waziristan. The high death toll from just three attacks dramatically ... and more » SOMALIA: Al Shabab takes credit of assassination against Somali MP in ... - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: Al Shabab takes credit of assassination against Somali MP in ... Raxanreeb Online The militant group which wages heavy offensive from Somalia government forces and the AMISOM troops in Somalia has killed five lawmakers in Mogadishu this year. A famous lawmaker and singer Saado Ali Warsame was shot and killed a week ago as the ... Himin & Heeb Boycotts Agreement to Unite Administrations in Central Somalia - AllAfrica.com Himin & Heeb Boycotts Agreement to Unite Administrations in Central Somalia AllAfrica.com Abdullahi Omar Baarleeh, the president of Himin & Heeb says they boycott the agreement to intent to unite administration in central Somalia which was signed in Mogadishu yesterday. Himin and Heeb administration says all inhabitants of central Somalia ... SOMALIA: Puntland celebrates 16th anniversary - Raxanreeb Online Raxanreeb Online SOMALIA: Puntland celebrates 16th anniversary Raxanreeb Online Thousands of Puntlanders Join their leaders in the state's main towns of Bassaso,Garowe and Galkacyo among the others to celebrate 1august which marks the day Puntland government was announces in 1998. Among several celebrations include ... Somaliland: Puntland Withdraws from SFG, Recalls nationals from the ...Somaliland Sun Somalia: Puntland celebrates 16 years of statehoodGarowe Online all 5 news articles »