Research Library: Somalia
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Last Updated Aug 29, 2007
Country Information
Political Stability
- Somalia has had no recognized and functioning government since January 27, 1991, when the United Somali Congress ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed Said Barre.
- Warlords leading different factions have been competing for power and several regions have declared independence, most notably the northern region of "Somaliland". Currently the militant Islamic group, Union of Islamic Courts, and the interim government are the most powerful groups seeking to control Somalia.
- In January of 2004 politicians signed a deal establishing a new parliament and interim government. The parliament selected Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as president. The interim government not successfully reestablished a working government.
- In 2006 a militant Islamic group, the Union of Islamic Courts, gained control over the capital city and much of the south of the Somalia. In response, Ethiopian and interim government troops recaptured the city. The fighting has increased to a level unseen for 15 years and more than 320,000 Somalians have fled the capital.
Current Government Policies
- N/A. Somalia has no functioning government and its very loosely organized legal system is not effective.
International Reputation
- The United States military intervened in Somalia in 2007 for the first time since leaving in 1994. The U.S. has at intervened at least two times since January 2007, including one air-strike and a naval bombardment.
- In August of 2007 the Human Right watch issued a report accusing Ethiopian, Interim Government, and Union of Islamic Courts troops of war crimes and human rights violations. The accusations stem from the continued fighting in the capital city, Mogadishu.
- Somalia's goal of uniting Somali-inhabited territories in a "pan-Somali" tradition has been a major source of conflict between Somalia and its neighbors, including Kenya and Ethiopia.
Economics
- Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings.Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports.
- Although Somalia has some natural resources such as minerals and petroleum, they have not been widely exported commercially. However in 2001 the transitional government signed an agreement for oil prospects with a French group.
- Somalia has overdue financial obligations to the IMF and debt continues to grow.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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