Somalia (Somali language: ''Soomaaliya''; Arabic language: الصومال, ''As-Sumal''), formerly known as the ''Somali Democratic Republic'', is a coastal nation in East Africa. Continentally, it is entirely surrounded by Ethiopia and Djibouti on the north and mid-west, and Kenya on its south-west; with the Gulf of Aden on its east. It currently exists solely in a de jure capacity, which can be described as anarchy. Somalia has no recognized central government authority, no national currency, nor any other feature remotely associated with an established nation state. However, much of Somali society is highly organized, businesses are functioning (some sectors doing remarkably well), and is home to several private universities. De facto authority resides in the hands of the governments for the unrecognized entities of Somaliland, Puntland, and other small rival warlords. == History == ''Main article: History of Somalia'' Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, 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. Beginning in 1993, a two-year United nations humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but the UN withdrew in Operation United Shield by March 3 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order had still not been restored. Yet again another secession from Somalia took place in the northeastern region. The self-proclaimed state took the name Puntland after declaring "temporary" independence in 1998, with the intention that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government. A third seccession occurred in 1998 with the declaration of the state of Jubaland. The territory of Jubaland is now encompassed by the state of Southwestern Somalia and its status is unclear. A fourth self-proclaimed entity led by the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) was set up in 1999, along the lines of the Puntland. That "temporary" secession was reasserted in 2002. This led to the autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. The RRA had originally set up an autonomous administration over the Bay and Bakool regions of south and central Somalia in 1999. Somalia was one of the many countries devastated by the resulting tsunami which struck the Indian Ocean coast, destroying entire villages and killing an estimated 300 people. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Somalia'' Somalia has no effective national government. In the northwest, there is a breakaway republic of Somaliland. In the rest of the country there are various warlords, cf. Puntland and Southwestern Somalia. The internationally-recognised government is the Transitional National Government, originally headed by Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, which controls only part of the capital, Mogadishu. On October 10, 2004 Somali MPs elected Abdullahi Yusuf, president of Puntland, to be the next president. Because of the chaotic 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 parliament. The session of Parliament was also held in neighbouring Kenya. His government is recognized by most western nations as the country's legitimate rulers, though his actual authority is extremely questionable. Many other small political organizations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from clan-based politics (such as the United-SF). Many of them have come into existence since the new president was chosen. See also List of notable Somali leaders. ==Population== Somalia has a population of around 8,591,000. However, estimates are difficult because of the continuing situation. The last census was in 1975. Most outside analysts use this estimate but Somalia is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa and the world. Some estimates range between 6 to 15 million. If current trends continue, Somalia could have as many as 40 million people by 2050. == Provinces == ''Main article: Regions of Somalia'' Somalia is divided into 18 regions (singular ''gobolka'', plural ''gobollada''): * Awdal * Bakool * Banaadir * Bari, Somalia * Bay, Somalia * Galguduud * Gedo * Hiiraan * Jubbada Dhexe * Jubbada Hoose * Mudug * Nugaal * Sanaag * Shabeellaha Dhexe * Shabeellaha Hoose * Sool * Togdheer * Woqooyi Galbeed == Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Somalia'' Somalia is located on the east coast of Africa on and north of the Equator between the Gulf of Aden on the north and Indian Ocean on the east. Together with Ethiopia and Djibouti it is often referred to as the Horn of Africa. It borders Djibouti on the northwest, Ethiopia on the west, and Kenya on southwest. Somalia comprises Italy's former Italian Somaliland and the former British Somaliland (now seeking recognition as an independent state). The coastline extends 2,720 kilometres (1,700 mi) -- the most on the continent. The northern part of the country is hilly, and in many places the altitude ranges between 900 and 2,100 metres (3,000 ft.-7,000 ft.) above sea level. The central and southern areas are flat, with an average altitude of less than 180 metres (600 ft.). The Juba River and the Shabele River Rivers rise in Ethiopia and flow south across the country towards the Indian Ocean. The Shebelle, however, does not reach the sea except during seasons of high rain. Major climatic factors are a year-round hot climate, seasonal monsoon winds, and irregular rainfall with recurring droughts. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from 30°C to 40°C (85° F-105°F), except at higher elevations and along the east coast. Mean daily minimums usually vary from about 15°C to 30°C (60°F-85°F). The southwest monsoon, a sea breeze, makes the period from about May to October the mildest season at Mogadishu. The December-February period of the northeast monsoon is also relatively mild, although prevailing climatic conditions in Mogadishu are rarely pleasant. The "tangambili" periods that intervene between the two monsoons (October-November and March-May) are hot and humid. == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Somalia'' Somalia has a market economy. As one of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has relatively few resources. Much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war, but has gained significant ground since the collapse of the government. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, maize, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, in 1999, continuing civil disturbances in Mogadishu, Somalia and outlying areas interfered with any substantial economic advance and with international aid arrangements. Some areas in Somalia are actually doing better economically than before the war when the socialist government of Siad Barre had suppressed free enterprise and neglected large parts of the country. Northern Somalia especially has rebounded economically. The lack of a government made a genuine capitalist economy, with no taxes and no other government red tape that free market economists claim stifles economic growth in neighboring countries. The main problem affecting economic growth however, is the lack of stability in the south of the country. An example of this is that in Mogadishu, some businessmen would prefer to pay taxes to a government to maintain security rather than to warlords. Remittance sevices has become a large industry in Somalia. Successful people from the world-wide diaspora who fled because of the war contribute to the economy around $2 billion annually. Wireless communications has also become an giant economic force in Somalia. Because of the war, nobody really knows the size of the economy or how much it is growing. == Demographics and Languages== ''Main article: Demographics of Somalia'' As early as the seventh century, indigenous Cushitic peoples began to mingle with Arab and Irann traders who had settled along the coast. Interaction over the centuries led to the emergence of a Somali culture bound by common traditions, a single language, and the Islamic faith. Today, about 60% of all Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. About 25% of the population are settled farmers who live mainly in the fertile agricultural region between the Juba River and Shebelle River rivers in southern Somalia. The remainder of the population (15%-20%) is urban. Sizable ethnic groups in the country include Bantu agricultural workers, several thousand Arabs and some hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis. Apart from the Brava people who speak a language similar to Swahili, nearly all inhabitants speak the Somali language. A population of Italian descent, which dated back to Somalia's colonial era, began to emigrate following independence and by the outbreak of war most Italian Somalis had left the country. The language remained unwritten until October 1973, when the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) proclaimed it the nation's official language and decreed an orthography using Latin alphabet. Somali is now the language of instruction in schools, which are few. Arabic language, English language, and Italian language also are used extensively. == Culture == ''Main article: Culture of Somalia'' *Music of Somalia *Islam in Somalia *List of African writers (by country)#Somalia == Telecommunications == Somalia actually has much better telecommunication services than its neighbours, despite (or perhaps due to) its lack of government. Somalia has some of the cheaper calling rates in the world with some companies charge less than a cent a minute. Some of the factors that have created this situation are lack of a government-granted monopoly and taxation, and the neutrality of telecommunication firms vis-a-vis the warlords [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4020259.stm]. Companies providing telecommunication services are: *Netco *Galkom *STG (company) *Telcom *Nationlink *Hormuud *Global Internet Company == See also == *List of Somalia-related topics *Communications in Somalia *Transportation in Somalia *Military of Somalia *Foreign relations of Somalia *Building block theory == External links == ===News=== *[http://allafrica.com/somalia/ AllAfrica.com - ''Somalia''] news headline links *[http://www.banadir.com/ Banadir] news headline links ===Overviews=== *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm BBC News Country Profile - ''Somalia''] * [http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm BBC News In Depth - ''Somalia: Emerging from Ruins?''] *[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html CIA World Factbook - ''Somalia''] *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sotoc.html Library of Congress - ''Country Study: Somalia''] data as of May 1992 ===Directories=== *[http://search.looksmart.com/p/browse/us1/us317916/us559898/us559899/us10065672/us559954/ LookSmart - ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Africa/Somalia/ Open Directory Project - ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/somalia.html Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Somalia.html University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Somalia/ Yahoo! - ''Somalia''] directory category ===Tourism=== * ===Other=== *[http://www.unsomalia.net/ United Nations in Somalia] with [http://www.unsomalia.net/media/2002/stories/20021014_2.asp Historical Timeline] and [http://www.unsomalia.net/media/photogallery.htm Photo Gallery] *[http://www.liberalia.com/htm/mvn_stateless_somalis.htm From nation-state to stateless nation: The Somali Experience] *[http://www.mogadishuuniversity.com Mogadishu University] One of Somalia's largest universities describes itself as a "non-profit, non-sectarian and non-governmental institution of higher education." *[http://rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/Open.aspx?id=3762 ''Anarchy and Invention: How Does Somalia's Private Sector Cope Without Government?'' (PDF version)] [http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:Y6b4hmt1RicJ:rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/ HTML version] A World Bank study *[http://www.somalianarchy.com SomaliAnarchy - "Defending and Celebrating Somalis' Freedom and Prosperity"] Somalia Arab League African Union member states hi:सोमालिया la:Somalia lv:Somālija ms:Somalia nds:Somalia th:ประเทศโซมาเลีย so:Soomaaliya
Describe the new page here. The map in this page is not correct, as it shows Somalia as if the Somaliland is a recognized independent country, which is not. While it might be OK to show the boundary between the Somaliland and the rest of Somalia, it needs to be same color as Somalia. User:Ahoerstemeier 08:04, 30 Jul 2003 (UTC) :Upload the original CIA Factobook image and add a dotted line [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/maps/so-map.gif]. --User:Jiang Done. User:Ahoerstemeier 13:12, 30 Jul 2003 (UTC) The first sentence is a bit strong. According to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm there is some kind of government now. : But that same report says ''A transitional government set up in 2000 only controls parts of the capital.'' User:PMelvilleAustin 02:45, Nov 24, 2003 (UTC) There is only one Somalia recognized by the international community, therefore the map should have one color and any enclaves such the so called Somaliland should be ruled .warsame --60.48.83.122, 09:37, 28 Oct 2004 The summary about Somalia's economy needs a rewrite. It will be very difficult to calculate GDP and other percentages, but Somalia is quickly becoming an economic power house in the Horn of Africa. Telecommunications in Somalia, for one, provides the cheapest rates on the African continent, with international rates going between 20 cents to 50 cents now. There are many pasta companies, fisheries and internet cafes that dot throughout the country. There is even a Coca Cola plant. Nov 12, 2004 May the people of Somalia be fortunate and may the provisional government never step foot in Mogadishu. --User:Golbez 03:59, Jan 24, 2005 (UTC) ==Accuracy dispute== :NOTICE: There are several obvious errors in this document. Unfortunately, I know very little about Somalia, which is why I came to this page. Somebody, however, should correct these mistakes. Suspected errors are followed by three parenthesized question marks. From page, replaced with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Dubious Template:Dubious]. See Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute for more information on this kind of stuff--but it seems we do have a problem here. User:Wikiacc 22:47, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC) :The page was [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somalia&diff=10053996&oldid=10044587 vandalized by 64.60.74.162] on February 7, but the full extent was not realized. Every edit since then was a small fix of a part of the vandalism, so I have simply reverted it. Thanks for the catch.
— User:Ford 23:15, 2005 Feb 9 (UTC) ==Cleanup== An anonymous user (Friedo, perhaps) tagged this article for cleanup. I cannot figure out why. The article is not perfect, but it is actually in pretty good shape, a good article relative to the rest of the encyclopedia. If someone wants to specify exactly ''why'' this article needs cleanup, then at least the other editors can address it. Better yet, those who think it needs cleanup can actually ''do'' it. I will remove the tag in the meantime, since without details it is an impossible request.
— User:Ford 22:53, 2005 Feb 10 (UTC) ==Clarification== "Much of Somali society is highly organized and business is doing remarkably well." This is a very vague statement. What does it mean actually? Where are the statistics? --User:Eleassar777 07:45, 14 May 2005 (UTC) :I put that sentence in. If you read the intro it leads one to think that's Somalia is a wasteland fraught with chaos. But that's not the case. Sure, it's anarchy in sense of no government, but much of it is organized and orderly, with a lot of business beng conducted. They even have internet cafes. One the the external links in this article points to a World Bank study showing how effective the private sector there is. [http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:Y6b4hmt1RicJ:rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/ HTML version] There is also a link in the article in the Telecommunications sections showing how great business now that government is gone: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4020259.stm Also, look at these pictures from Somalia [[http://www.somalianarchy.com/viewtopic.php?t=14] Look at the external link to Mogadishu University. The country now has more universities and more people getting an education now that government isn't functioning. Anarchy doesn't always mean disorder, so it needs to be clarified that there is some order in Somalia. User:RJII 17:30, 15 May 2005 (UTC) Thanks. Nevertheless, it doesn't seem to agree with what is written in the section "Economy" of the article. --User:Eleassar777 21:08, 15 May 2005 (UTC) :You're right. That section definitely needs some serious updating. User:RJII 04:32, 18 May 2005 (UTC) The economic section is a contradiction. "Somalia has a market economy. As one of the world's poorest and least developed countries", this statement seems to imply that a market economy leads to a country that is poor and impoverish. User:Gobstomper 01:11, 24 May 2005 (UTC) : I don't see how that is a contradiction, nor do I see how it makes the "market economy = poor country" implication as you suggest. With no functioning central government, how could Somalia have a command economy? Somalia does have a market economy, and it is indeed one of the poorest countries. -- User:Gyrofrog User_talk:Gyrofrog 20:42, 24 May 2005 (UTC) == Template == can someone set the table currectly? == Economy and POV == I can't really put my finger on it (well maybe I can), but I detect a POV creeping in through recent edits of the "Economy" section. I'm not sure how these specific economic hot spots (e.g. wireless telecom, internet cafes) benefit, for instance, the rural (and, I assume, pastoralist) Somalians who form the majority of the population. I'm not sure if it's what the editor(s) are trying to put across, but it comes off as "laissez-faire economics are good for Somalia, as evidenced by the growth of wireless telecom etc." It's far from suggesting that Somalia is some sort of libertarian Utopia, but reading between the lines, it feels as though that's where someone's edits are coming from. Perhaps the bigger point is that one should not expect to read between the lines in an encyclopedia. Also the edits are leading to some (possible) contradictions: :''". . . the socialist government of Siad Barre had suppressed free enterprise and neglected large parts of the country."'' This comes off as criticizing the Barre government for intervening in the economy ("suppressing free enterprise"), but also for not intervening ("neglect"). ("Socialist" and "suppressed free enterprise" had been added more recently to the earlier version of the sentence.) The wireless communications sector is important enough that the ''World Almanac 2004'' lists it as one of Somalia's light industries. ("Economy: Industries: A few light industries, incl. sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication.") But I'm wondering if it's listed only because it is one of the only sectors sufficiently organized to qualify as an "industry." I would also not describe the situations in Somaliland and Puntland as anarchy - they may not be ''de jure'' (i.e. internationally recognized) governments but they are ''de facto'' governments. On the other hand I would also consider the warlord militias as "de facto governments" (and thus not "anarch''ists''") in the basic sense of imposing one's will over that of another. For what that's worth. -- User:Gyrofrog User_talk:Gyrofrog 19:56, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC) :I have to agree with you, and I'm not sure that you are out of line suggesting a "Somalia is libertarian Utopia"-POV to the recent edits. The optimistic tone of the contributions, despite the fact that factionalization continues to lead to much bloodshed, is quite strange and surreal. - User:BanyanTreeUser:BanyanTreeUser talk:BanyanTree 19:56, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC) ::I agree, the tone is clearly trying to present Somalia as a poster-child for anarcho-capitalism whilst not being too blatant. User:Morwen - User_talk:Morwen 09:54, 22 Jun 2005 (UTC) :::Certainly, there are libertarian/anarchist elements out there that are looking on Somalia with great interest, it's a forbidden experiment and thus far it's doing extremely well, considering the situation and obstacles. Any NPOV article requires that side to be shown, since it's so unique in the world today. --User:Golbez 10:06, Jun 23, 2005 (UTC) == History == Can anyone add history of Somalia prior to 1977? User:207.225.246.225 23:30, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC) Yes, it is on there, but for brevity's sake, the history section starts in '77. If you wantto read the complete history of Somalis, you can click History of Somalia. --User:Soomaali
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Somalia
Somalia (Somali language: ''Soomaaliya''; Arabic language: الصومال, ''As-Sumal''), formerly known as the ''Somali Democratic Republic'', is a coastal nation in East Africa. Continentally, it is entirely surrounded by Ethiopia and Djibouti on the north and mid-west, and Kenya on its south-west; with the Gulf of Aden on its east. It currently exists solely in a de jure capacity, which can be described as anarchy. Somalia has no recognized central government authority, no national currency, nor any other feature remotely associated with an established nation state. However, much of Somali society is highly organized, businesses are functioning (some sectors doing remarkably well), and is home to several private universities. De facto authority resides in the hands of the governments for the unrecognized entities of Somaliland, Puntland, and other small rival warlords. == History == ''Main article: History of Somalia'' Intermittent civil war has been a fact of life in Somalia since 1977. In 1991, 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. Beginning in 1993, a two-year United nations humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but the UN withdrew in Operation United Shield by March 3 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order had still not been restored. Yet again another secession from Somalia took place in the northeastern region. The self-proclaimed state took the name Puntland after declaring "temporary" independence in 1998, with the intention that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government. A third seccession occurred in 1998 with the declaration of the state of Jubaland. The territory of Jubaland is now encompassed by the state of Southwestern Somalia and its status is unclear. A fourth self-proclaimed entity led by the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) was set up in 1999, along the lines of the Puntland. That "temporary" secession was reasserted in 2002. This led to the autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. The RRA had originally set up an autonomous administration over the Bay and Bakool regions of south and central Somalia in 1999. Somalia was one of the many countries devastated by the resulting tsunami which struck the Indian Ocean coast, destroying entire villages and killing an estimated 300 people. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Somalia'' Somalia has no effective national government. In the northwest, there is a breakaway republic of Somaliland. In the rest of the country there are various warlords, cf. Puntland and Southwestern Somalia. The internationally-recognised government is the Transitional National Government, originally headed by Abdulkassim Salat Hassan, which controls only part of the capital, Mogadishu. On October 10, 2004 Somali MPs elected Abdullahi Yusuf, president of Puntland, to be the next president. Because of the chaotic 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 parliament. The session of Parliament was also held in neighbouring Kenya. His government is recognized by most western nations as the country's legitimate rulers, though his actual authority is extremely questionable. Many other small political organizations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from clan-based politics (such as the United-SF). Many of them have come into existence since the new president was chosen. See also List of notable Somali leaders. ==Population== Somalia has a population of around 8,591,000. However, estimates are difficult because of the continuing situation. The last census was in 1975. Most outside analysts use this estimate but Somalia is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa and the world. Some estimates range between 6 to 15 million. If current trends continue, Somalia could have as many as 40 million people by 2050. == Provinces == ''Main article: Regions of Somalia'' Somalia is divided into 18 regions (singular ''gobolka'', plural ''gobollada''): * Awdal * Bakool * Banaadir * Bari, Somalia * Bay, Somalia * Galguduud * Gedo * Hiiraan * Jubbada Dhexe * Jubbada Hoose * Mudug * Nugaal * Sanaag * Shabeellaha Dhexe * Shabeellaha Hoose * Sool * Togdheer * Woqooyi Galbeed == Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Somalia'' Somalia is located on the east coast of Africa on and north of the Equator between the Gulf of Aden on the north and Indian Ocean on the east. Together with Ethiopia and Djibouti it is often referred to as the Horn of Africa. It borders Djibouti on the northwest, Ethiopia on the west, and Kenya on southwest. Somalia comprises Italy's former Italian Somaliland and the former British Somaliland (now seeking recognition as an independent state). The coastline extends 2,720 kilometres (1,700 mi) -- the most on the continent. The northern part of the country is hilly, and in many places the altitude ranges between 900 and 2,100 metres (3,000 ft.-7,000 ft.) above sea level. The central and southern areas are flat, with an average altitude of less than 180 metres (600 ft.). The Juba River and the Shabele River Rivers rise in Ethiopia and flow south across the country towards the Indian Ocean. The Shebelle, however, does not reach the sea except during seasons of high rain. Major climatic factors are a year-round hot climate, seasonal monsoon winds, and irregular rainfall with recurring droughts. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from 30°C to 40°C (85° F-105°F), except at higher elevations and along the east coast. Mean daily minimums usually vary from about 15°C to 30°C (60°F-85°F). The southwest monsoon, a sea breeze, makes the period from about May to October the mildest season at Mogadishu. The December-February period of the northeast monsoon is also relatively mild, although prevailing climatic conditions in Mogadishu are rarely pleasant. The "tangambili" periods that intervene between the two monsoons (October-November and March-May) are hot and humid. == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Somalia'' Somalia has a market economy. As one of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has relatively few resources. Much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war, but has gained significant ground since the collapse of the government. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the principal export; sugar, sorghum, maize, and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover, in 1999, continuing civil disturbances in Mogadishu, Somalia and outlying areas interfered with any substantial economic advance and with international aid arrangements. Some areas in Somalia are actually doing better economically than before the war when the socialist government of Siad Barre had suppressed free enterprise and neglected large parts of the country. Northern Somalia especially has rebounded economically. The lack of a government made a genuine capitalist economy, with no taxes and no other government red tape that free market economists claim stifles economic growth in neighboring countries. The main problem affecting economic growth however, is the lack of stability in the south of the country. An example of this is that in Mogadishu, some businessmen would prefer to pay taxes to a government to maintain security rather than to warlords. Remittance sevices has become a large industry in Somalia. Successful people from the world-wide diaspora who fled because of the war contribute to the economy around $2 billion annually. Wireless communications has also become an giant economic force in Somalia. Because of the war, nobody really knows the size of the economy or how much it is growing. == Demographics and Languages== ''Main article: Demographics of Somalia'' As early as the seventh century, indigenous Cushitic peoples began to mingle with Arab and Irann traders who had settled along the coast. Interaction over the centuries led to the emergence of a Somali culture bound by common traditions, a single language, and the Islamic faith. Today, about 60% of all Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who raise cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. About 25% of the population are settled farmers who live mainly in the fertile agricultural region between the Juba River and Shebelle River rivers in southern Somalia. The remainder of the population (15%-20%) is urban. Sizable ethnic groups in the country include Bantu agricultural workers, several thousand Arabs and some hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis. Apart from the Brava people who speak a language similar to Swahili, nearly all inhabitants speak the Somali language. A population of Italian descent, which dated back to Somalia's colonial era, began to emigrate following independence and by the outbreak of war most Italian Somalis had left the country. The language remained unwritten until October 1973, when the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) proclaimed it the nation's official language and decreed an orthography using Latin alphabet. Somali is now the language of instruction in schools, which are few. Arabic language, English language, and Italian language also are used extensively. == Culture == ''Main article: Culture of Somalia'' *Music of Somalia *Islam in Somalia *List of African writers (by country)#Somalia == Telecommunications == Somalia actually has much better telecommunication services than its neighbours, despite (or perhaps due to) its lack of government. Somalia has some of the cheaper calling rates in the world with some companies charge less than a cent a minute. Some of the factors that have created this situation are lack of a government-granted monopoly and taxation, and the neutrality of telecommunication firms vis-a-vis the warlords [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4020259.stm]. Companies providing telecommunication services are: *Netco *Galkom *STG (company) *Telcom *Nationlink *Hormuud *Global Internet Company == See also == *List of Somalia-related topics *Communications in Somalia *Transportation in Somalia *Military of Somalia *Foreign relations of Somalia *Building block theory == External links == ===News=== *[http://allafrica.com/somalia/ AllAfrica.com - ''Somalia''] news headline links *[http://www.banadir.com/ Banadir] news headline links ===Overviews=== *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm BBC News Country Profile - ''Somalia''] * [http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm BBC News In Depth - ''Somalia: Emerging from Ruins?''] *[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/so.html CIA World Factbook - ''Somalia''] *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sotoc.html Library of Congress - ''Country Study: Somalia''] data as of May 1992 ===Directories=== *[http://search.looksmart.com/p/browse/us1/us317916/us559898/us559899/us10065672/us559954/ LookSmart - ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Africa/Somalia/ Open Directory Project - ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/somalia.html Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Somalia.html University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: ''Somalia''] directory category *[http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Somalia/ Yahoo! - ''Somalia''] directory category ===Tourism=== * ===Other=== *[http://www.unsomalia.net/ United Nations in Somalia] with [http://www.unsomalia.net/media/2002/stories/20021014_2.asp Historical Timeline] and [http://www.unsomalia.net/media/photogallery.htm Photo Gallery] *[http://www.liberalia.com/htm/mvn_stateless_somalis.htm From nation-state to stateless nation: The Somali Experience] *[http://www.mogadishuuniversity.com Mogadishu University] One of Somalia's largest universities describes itself as a "non-profit, non-sectarian and non-governmental institution of higher education." *[http://rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/Open.aspx?id=3762 ''Anarchy and Invention: How Does Somalia's Private Sector Cope Without Government?'' (PDF version)] [http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:Y6b4hmt1RicJ:rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/ HTML version] A World Bank study *[http://www.somalianarchy.com SomaliAnarchy - "Defending and Celebrating Somalis' Freedom and Prosperity"] Somalia Arab League African Union member states hi:सोमालिया la:Somalia lv:Somālija ms:Somalia nds:Somalia th:ประเทศโซมาเลีย so:Soomaaliya
Somalia
Describe the new page here. The map in this page is not correct, as it shows Somalia as if the Somaliland is a recognized independent country, which is not. While it might be OK to show the boundary between the Somaliland and the rest of Somalia, it needs to be same color as Somalia. User:Ahoerstemeier 08:04, 30 Jul 2003 (UTC) :Upload the original CIA Factobook image and add a dotted line [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/maps/so-map.gif]. --User:Jiang Done. User:Ahoerstemeier 13:12, 30 Jul 2003 (UTC) The first sentence is a bit strong. According to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm there is some kind of government now. : But that same report says ''A transitional government set up in 2000 only controls parts of the capital.'' User:PMelvilleAustin 02:45, Nov 24, 2003 (UTC) There is only one Somalia recognized by the international community, therefore the map should have one color and any enclaves such the so called Somaliland should be ruled .warsame --60.48.83.122, 09:37, 28 Oct 2004 The summary about Somalia's economy needs a rewrite. It will be very difficult to calculate GDP and other percentages, but Somalia is quickly becoming an economic power house in the Horn of Africa. Telecommunications in Somalia, for one, provides the cheapest rates on the African continent, with international rates going between 20 cents to 50 cents now. There are many pasta companies, fisheries and internet cafes that dot throughout the country. There is even a Coca Cola plant. Nov 12, 2004 May the people of Somalia be fortunate and may the provisional government never step foot in Mogadishu. --User:Golbez 03:59, Jan 24, 2005 (UTC) ==Accuracy dispute== :NOTICE: There are several obvious errors in this document. Unfortunately, I know very little about Somalia, which is why I came to this page. Somebody, however, should correct these mistakes. Suspected errors are followed by three parenthesized question marks. From page, replaced with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Dubious Template:Dubious]. See Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute for more information on this kind of stuff--but it seems we do have a problem here. User:Wikiacc 22:47, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC) :The page was [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Somalia&diff=10053996&oldid=10044587 vandalized by 64.60.74.162] on February 7, but the full extent was not realized. Every edit since then was a small fix of a part of the vandalism, so I have simply reverted it. Thanks for the catch.
— User:Ford 23:15, 2005 Feb 9 (UTC) ==Cleanup== An anonymous user (Friedo, perhaps) tagged this article for cleanup. I cannot figure out why. The article is not perfect, but it is actually in pretty good shape, a good article relative to the rest of the encyclopedia. If someone wants to specify exactly ''why'' this article needs cleanup, then at least the other editors can address it. Better yet, those who think it needs cleanup can actually ''do'' it. I will remove the tag in the meantime, since without details it is an impossible request.
— User:Ford 22:53, 2005 Feb 10 (UTC) ==Clarification== "Much of Somali society is highly organized and business is doing remarkably well." This is a very vague statement. What does it mean actually? Where are the statistics? --User:Eleassar777 07:45, 14 May 2005 (UTC) :I put that sentence in. If you read the intro it leads one to think that's Somalia is a wasteland fraught with chaos. But that's not the case. Sure, it's anarchy in sense of no government, but much of it is organized and orderly, with a lot of business beng conducted. They even have internet cafes. One the the external links in this article points to a World Bank study showing how effective the private sector there is. [http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:Y6b4hmt1RicJ:rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/ HTML version] There is also a link in the article in the Telecommunications sections showing how great business now that government is gone: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4020259.stm Also, look at these pictures from Somalia [[http://www.somalianarchy.com/viewtopic.php?t=14] Look at the external link to Mogadishu University. The country now has more universities and more people getting an education now that government isn't functioning. Anarchy doesn't always mean disorder, so it needs to be clarified that there is some order in Somalia. User:RJII 17:30, 15 May 2005 (UTC) Thanks. Nevertheless, it doesn't seem to agree with what is written in the section "Economy" of the article. --User:Eleassar777 21:08, 15 May 2005 (UTC) :You're right. That section definitely needs some serious updating. User:RJII 04:32, 18 May 2005 (UTC) The economic section is a contradiction. "Somalia has a market economy. As one of the world's poorest and least developed countries", this statement seems to imply that a market economy leads to a country that is poor and impoverish. User:Gobstomper 01:11, 24 May 2005 (UTC) : I don't see how that is a contradiction, nor do I see how it makes the "market economy = poor country" implication as you suggest. With no functioning central government, how could Somalia have a command economy? Somalia does have a market economy, and it is indeed one of the poorest countries. -- User:Gyrofrog User_talk:Gyrofrog 20:42, 24 May 2005 (UTC) == Template == can someone set the table currectly? == Economy and POV == I can't really put my finger on it (well maybe I can), but I detect a POV creeping in through recent edits of the "Economy" section. I'm not sure how these specific economic hot spots (e.g. wireless telecom, internet cafes) benefit, for instance, the rural (and, I assume, pastoralist) Somalians who form the majority of the population. I'm not sure if it's what the editor(s) are trying to put across, but it comes off as "laissez-faire economics are good for Somalia, as evidenced by the growth of wireless telecom etc." It's far from suggesting that Somalia is some sort of libertarian Utopia, but reading between the lines, it feels as though that's where someone's edits are coming from. Perhaps the bigger point is that one should not expect to read between the lines in an encyclopedia. Also the edits are leading to some (possible) contradictions: :''". . . the socialist government of Siad Barre had suppressed free enterprise and neglected large parts of the country."'' This comes off as criticizing the Barre government for intervening in the economy ("suppressing free enterprise"), but also for not intervening ("neglect"). ("Socialist" and "suppressed free enterprise" had been added more recently to the earlier version of the sentence.) The wireless communications sector is important enough that the ''World Almanac 2004'' lists it as one of Somalia's light industries. ("Economy: Industries: A few light industries, incl. sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication.") But I'm wondering if it's listed only because it is one of the only sectors sufficiently organized to qualify as an "industry." I would also not describe the situations in Somaliland and Puntland as anarchy - they may not be ''de jure'' (i.e. internationally recognized) governments but they are ''de facto'' governments. On the other hand I would also consider the warlord militias as "de facto governments" (and thus not "anarch''ists''") in the basic sense of imposing one's will over that of another. For what that's worth. -- User:Gyrofrog User_talk:Gyrofrog 19:56, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC) :I have to agree with you, and I'm not sure that you are out of line suggesting a "Somalia is libertarian Utopia"-POV to the recent edits. The optimistic tone of the contributions, despite the fact that factionalization continues to lead to much bloodshed, is quite strange and surreal. - User:BanyanTreeUser:BanyanTreeUser talk:BanyanTree 19:56, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC) ::I agree, the tone is clearly trying to present Somalia as a poster-child for anarcho-capitalism whilst not being too blatant. User:Morwen - User_talk:Morwen 09:54, 22 Jun 2005 (UTC) :::Certainly, there are libertarian/anarchist elements out there that are looking on Somalia with great interest, it's a forbidden experiment and thus far it's doing extremely well, considering the situation and obstacles. Any NPOV article requires that side to be shown, since it's so unique in the world today. --User:Golbez 10:06, Jun 23, 2005 (UTC) == History == Can anyone add history of Somalia prior to 1977? User:207.225.246.225 23:30, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC) Yes, it is on there, but for brevity's sake, the history section starts in '77. If you wantto read the complete history of Somalis, you can click History of Somalia. --User:Soomaali
Somalia
African countries Eastern Africa Arab League
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S
SB | SC | SD | SE | SF | SG | SH | SI | SJ | SK | SL | SM | SN | SO | SP | SR | SS | ST | SU | SW | SX | SY | SZ |Words begining with Somalia:
Somalia
Somalia
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Somalia-map2-s.art
Somalia-somaliland1-s.art
Somalia/Communications
Somalia/Economy
Somalia/Geography
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Somalia/Government
Somalia/History
Somalia/Military
Somalia/People
Somalia/Transnational_issues
Somalia/Transportation
Somaliafriend
Somalian
Somalian_Civil_War
Somalian_Civil_War
Somalian_music
Somalian_National_Anthem
Somalian_National_Anthem
Somalian_president
Somalian_presidents
Somalia_Affair
Somalia_Affair
Somalia_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics
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Somalia_National_University
Somalia_Regions
Somalia_Regions
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