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History
The independence of the British Somaliland Protectorate from the United Kingdom was proclaimed on June
26, 1960. On July 1, 1960, unification of the British and ex-Italian Somaliland took place. The government
was formed by Abdullahi Issa. Aden Abdullah Osman Daar was appointed as President and Abdirashid Ali
Shermarke as Prime Minister. Later, in 1967, Mohammed Ibrahim Egal became Prime Minister in the
government appointed by Abdirishid Ali shermarke. Egal was later chosen as President of the self-declared
independent Somaliland. He died in a hospital in Pretoria on May 3, 2002.
In late 1969, a military government assumed power following the assassination of Shermarke, who had
been chosen, and served as, President from 1967–1969. Mohamed Siad Barre, a General in the armed forces
became the President in 1969 following a coup d'état. The revolutionary army leaders, headed by Major
General Mohamed Siyad Barre, who came from the majority tribe in Somalia, established large-scale public
works programmes. They also successfully implemented an urban and rural literacy campaign, in which they
helped to dramatically increase the literacy rate from a mere 5% to 55% by the mid-1980s.
In the meantime, Barre assassinated a major figure in his cabinet, Major General Gabiere, and two other
officials. Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, first insurgent forces led
by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, leader of the (SSDF), and President Ali Mahdi Mohamed officially unrecognised,
ousted Siad Barre's government. The same year, the northern portion of the country declared its
independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the
tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. Read More
The independence of the British Somaliland Protectorate from the United Kingdom was proclaimed on June
26, 1960. On July 1, 1960, unification of the British and ex-Italian Somaliland took place. The government
was formed by Abdullahi Issa. Aden Abdullah Osman Daar was appointed as President and Abdirashid Ali
Shermarke as Prime Minister. Later, in 1967, Mohammed Ibrahim Egal became Prime Minister in the
government appointed by Abdirishid Ali shermarke. Egal was later chosen as President of the self-declared
independent Somaliland. He died in a hospital in Pretoria on May 3, 2002.
In late 1969, a military government assumed power following the assassination of Shermarke, who had
been chosen, and served as, President from 1967–1969. Mohamed Siad Barre, a General in the armed forces
became the President in 1969 following a coup d'état. The revolutionary army leaders, headed by Major
General Mohamed Siyad Barre, who came from the majority tribe in Somalia, established large-scale public
works programmes. They also successfully implemented an urban and rural literacy campaign, in which they
helped to dramatically increase the literacy rate from a mere 5% to 55% by the mid-1980s.
In the meantime, Barre assassinated a major figure in his cabinet, Major General Gabiere, and two other
officials. Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, first insurgent forces led
by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, leader of the (SSDF), and President Ali Mahdi Mohamed officially unrecognised,
ousted Siad Barre's government. The same year, the northern portion of the country declared its
independence as Somaliland; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the
tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. Read More
| Somali Political States |
Politics
Somalia has had no effective national government since 1991. In the northwest and northeast, there are
breakaway regions namely Somaliland and Puntland. In the rest of the country there are various warlords. In
2000, the international community recognised the Transitional National Government, originally headed by
Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, as the government for the entire country. The government has not even been
able to enter the capital because of the violence.
On October 14, 2004 Somali members of parliament elected warlord Abdullahi Yusuf, previously president of
Puntland, to be the next president. Because of the situation in Mogadishu, the election was held in a sports
centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Yusuf was elected transitional President by Somalia's transitional parliament. He
won 189 of the 275 votes from members of parliament. The session of Parliament was also held in
neighbouring Kenya. His government is recognized by most western nations as legitimate, although his
actual authority is questionable.
Many other small political organizations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from
clan-based politics (such as the United Somali Front). Many of them have come into existence since the new
president was chosen.
Somalia has had no effective national government since 1991. In the northwest and northeast, there are
breakaway regions namely Somaliland and Puntland. In the rest of the country there are various warlords. In
2000, the international community recognised the Transitional National Government, originally headed by
Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, as the government for the entire country. The government has not even been
able to enter the capital because of the violence.
On October 14, 2004 Somali members of parliament elected warlord Abdullahi Yusuf, previously president of
Puntland, to be the next president. Because of the situation in Mogadishu, the election was held in a sports
centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Yusuf was elected transitional President by Somalia's transitional parliament. He
won 189 of the 275 votes from members of parliament. The session of Parliament was also held in
neighbouring Kenya. His government is recognized by most western nations as legitimate, although his
actual authority is questionable.
Many other small political organizations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from
clan-based politics (such as the United Somali Front). Many of them have come into existence since the new
president was chosen.
People
Population:
Somali (official), Rahanwain, Bajuni, Jiido, Arabic, Italian,
English
Median age:
Population:
- 8,025,190
- Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15%
(including Arabs 30,000)
- Sunni Muslim
Somali (official), Rahanwain, Bajuni, Jiido, Arabic, Italian,
English
Median age:
- Total: 17.6 years
- Male: 17.6 years
- Female: 17.6 years (2002)
- 0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,802,154; female
1,792,749) - 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,120,934; female
2,093,699) - 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 93,682; female
121,972) (2003 est.)
Geography
Location:
Climate:
principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to
October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in
the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons
Location:
- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia
- Total: 637,657 sq km
- water: 10,320 sq km
- land: 627,337 sq km
- Total: 2,340 km
- Border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km,
Kenya 682 km
- Arable land: 1.66%
- Permanent crops: 0.04%
- Other: 98.3% (1998 est.)
Climate:
principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to
October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in
the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons
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