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Somalia


 
 
Somalia (; ), officially the Somali Republic (, ) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of AfricaFacts About Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa or Somali Peninsula is a peninsula of East Africa that juts for hundreds of kilometers into the Ara...
. It is bordered by DjiboutiDjibouti

Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a small country in eastern Africa, located in the Horn of Africa....
 to the northwest, KenyaKenya

The Republic of Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa....
 on its southwest, the Gulf of AdenFacts About Gulf of Aden

The Gulf of Aden is located in the Indian Ocean between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in Af...
 with YemenYemen

Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a Middle Eastern country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asi...
 on its north, the Indian OceanIndian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface....
 at its east, and EthiopiaEthiopia

Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country situated in the Horn of Africa....
 to the west.

Italian SomalilandItalian Somaliland

Italian Somaliland was an Italian colony that lasted, apart from a brief interlude of British rule, from the late 19th centu...
 gained its independence from Italy on 1 July 1960. On the same day, it united with British SomalilandBritish Somaliland

The British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the north part of the Horn of Africa, and later part of Somalia and pre...
, which gained independence on 26 June 1960, to form the Somali republic. The Somali stateState

A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societie...
 currently exists largely in a de jureDe jure Overview

De jure is an expression that means "based on law" or "by the jury", to be closer to the term, as contrasted with de ...
capacity; Somalia has a weak but largely recognised central government authority, the Transitional Federal GovernmentTransitional Federal Government

The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia...
 (TFG), but this currently controls only the central region of Somalia, and before the end of 2006 controlled only the city of BaidoaBaidoa

Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia....
.

De factoDe facto

De facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice"....
 control of the north of the country resides in the local authorities; of these PuntlandPuntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
, MaakhirMaakhir

Maakhir , officially the Maakhir State of Somalia is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Somalia on an area dis...
, GalmudugGalmudug

Galmudug, is a secular, decentralized state in the central region of Somalia....
, acknowledge the authority of the TFG and maintain their declaration of autonomyAutonomy

Autonomy means freedom from external authority....
 within a federated Somalia, while Southwestern SomaliaSouthwestern Somalia

Southwestern Somalia is a supposedly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hassan Muhammad Nur "Shatigadud"...
 and JubalandJubaland

Jubaland or Juba Valley, formerly Trans-Juba, is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Ju...
 in the south have largely abandoned the idea of autonomy.






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Timeline

1527   Ahmed Gragn of Somalia defeats the Ethiopian army with his new firearms.

1969   Siad Barre comes to power in Somalia in a coup.

1977   The last "wild" infection of smallpox is reported in Somalia.

1977   German Autumn: Four Palestinians hijack a Lufthansa Airlines flight to Somalia and demand release of 11 members of the Red Army Faction. (See Lufthansa Flight 181)

1977   The last natural case of smallpox is discovered in Merca district, Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination and, by extension, of modern scien

1978   Somalia mobilizes its troops, due to an apparent Ethiopian attack.

1978   Ethiopia admits that its troops are fighting with the aid of Cuban soldiers against Somalian troops in Ogaden.

1984   A peace agreement between Kenya and Somalia was signed in the Egyptian capital Cairo in December 1984. With this agreement, in which Somalia officially renounced its historical territorial claims, relations between the two countries began to improve.

1991   Somalia President Siad Barre flees his compound in Mogadishu.

1991   Siad Barre is succeeded by Ali Mahdi Muhammad in Somalia. '', U.S. military decimates the Iraqi Army as it retreats from Kuwait.]]







Encyclopedia


Somalia (; ), officially the Somali Republic (, ) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of AfricaFacts About Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa or Somali Peninsula is a peninsula of East Africa that juts for hundreds of kilometers into the Ara...
. It is bordered by DjiboutiDjibouti

Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a small country in eastern Africa, located in the Horn of Africa....
 to the northwest, KenyaKenya

The Republic of Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa....
 on its southwest, the Gulf of AdenFacts About Gulf of Aden

The Gulf of Aden is located in the Indian Ocean between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in Af...
 with YemenYemen

Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a Middle Eastern country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asi...
 on its north, the Indian OceanIndian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface....
 at its east, and EthiopiaEthiopia

Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country situated in the Horn of Africa....
 to the west.

Italian SomalilandItalian Somaliland

Italian Somaliland was an Italian colony that lasted, apart from a brief interlude of British rule, from the late 19th centu...
 gained its independence from Italy on 1 July 1960. On the same day, it united with British SomalilandBritish Somaliland

The British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the north part of the Horn of Africa, and later part of Somalia and pre...
, which gained independence on 26 June 1960, to form the Somali republic. The Somali stateState

A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societie...
 currently exists largely in a de jureDe jure Overview

De jure is an expression that means "based on law" or "by the jury", to be closer to the term, as contrasted with de ...
capacity; Somalia has a weak but largely recognised central government authority, the Transitional Federal GovernmentTransitional Federal Government

The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia...
 (TFG), but this currently controls only the central region of Somalia, and before the end of 2006 controlled only the city of BaidoaBaidoa

Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia....
.

De factoDe facto

De facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice"....
 control of the north of the country resides in the local authorities; of these PuntlandPuntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
, MaakhirMaakhir

Maakhir , officially the Maakhir State of Somalia is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Somalia on an area dis...
, GalmudugGalmudug

Galmudug, is a secular, decentralized state in the central region of Somalia....
, acknowledge the authority of the TFG and maintain their declaration of autonomyAutonomy

Autonomy means freedom from external authority....
 within a federated Somalia, while Southwestern SomaliaSouthwestern Somalia

Southwestern Somalia is a supposedly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hassan Muhammad Nur "Shatigadud"...
 and JubalandJubaland

Jubaland or Juba Valley, formerly Trans-Juba, is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Ju...
 in the south have largely abandoned the idea of autonomy. Their political capital, Baidoa, is currently the TFG capital, and their commercial capital, Kismayo, is being disputed. On the other hand, SomalilandSomaliland Overview

Somaliland is an unrecognized de facto sovereign state state located in northwest Somalia in the Horn of Africa....
 in the north, with its capital in HargeisaHargeisa

Hargeisa is a city in northwestern Somalia; it is also the capital and largest city of the self-declared but unrecognized Re...
, has declared independence and does not recognise the TFG as governing authority.

History

Continuously inhabited for the last 2,500 years by numerous and varied ethnic groups, some AfarFacts About Afar

Afar may refer to:*Afar people, who principally reside in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia...
 or other Cushitic-speaking populations, and the majority SomalisSomali people

The Somalis are an ethnic group located in the northeast portion of the Horn of Africa adjacent to the Red Sea and Indian Oc...
. From the 1st century numerous ports including HafunHafun

Hafun is a small low-lying peninsula in the Bari region of northern Somalia....
 and Mosylon-Bandar Gori were trading with RomanAncient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of the city-state of Rome, founded in the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th cent...
 and GreekAncient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history which lasted for around one thousand years and ended with the rise of Christia...
 sailors.

The northwest was part of the Aksumite Empire from about the 3rd century to the 7th but between 700 AD and 1200 AD IslamIslam

Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the Qur'an, which adherents believe was sent by God through Muhammad....
 became firmly established, especially with the founding of MogadishuMogadishu

Mogadishu , is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital....
 in 900.
The period following, 1200 AD to 1500 AD, saw the rise of numerous Somali city-stateCity-state

A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city, and usually having sovereignty....
s and kingdoms. In northwestern Somalia, the Sultanate of AdalAdal Sultanate

Adal was a sixteenth century province-cum-sultanate located in East Africa north of Northwestern Somalia....
 (a multi-ethnic state comprised of AfarsAfar people

Afar are an ethnic group who reside principally in the Danakil Desert in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in Eritrea and Djib...
, Somalis and Hararis) with Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-GhaziAhmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi

Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi was an Imam and General of Adal who defeated Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia....
 as their leader in 1520, successfully conquered three-quarters of Ethiopia before being defeated by a joint Ethiopian-PortuguesePortugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the w...
 force at the Battle of Wayna DagaBattle of Wayna Daga

The Battle of Wayna Daga took place 21 February 1543, somewhere east of Lake Tana....
 on February 21 1543.

The Ajuuraan SultanateAjuran Overview

The Ajuran is a Somali clan. The Ajuuraan together with the Hantire are the descendants of Jambeele , one of the six sons of...
 flourished from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Following the collapse of Adal and Ajuuraan in the 17th century, the region saw the emergence of new city states such as the SultanSultan

For information on the racehorse, see Sultan ...
ates of eastern SanaagSanaag

Sanaag is the largest of the 18 regions ....
, of Bari, of Geledi-Afgoye, of Gasar Gudde-Lugh Ganane, of Mogadishu and the BenadirBenadir

Benadir is a coastal region of Somalia....
 coast, and of HobyoHobyo

Hobyo is an ancient harbor city in the Mudugh region of Somalia....
.

Colonial period

Competition between the Somali clanSomali clan

Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people....
s that lived in these states persisted through the colonialColonialism

See colony and colonisation for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism....
 period, when various parts of the region were colonised by BritainUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

| align="center" colspan="2"| United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland...
 and ItalyItaly

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European country....
. This era began in the year 1884, the end of a long period of comparative peace. At the Berlin ConferenceBerlin Conference

The Berlin Conference of 1884–85 regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period...
 of 1884, the scramble for AfricaScramble for Africa Summary

The Scramble for Africa was the proliferation of conflicting European claims to African territory during the New Imperialism...
 started the long and bloody process of the imperial partition of Somali lands. The FrenchFacts About France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi...
, British, and Italians came to Somalia in the late 19th century.

The British signed treaties with the clans in what was known after as British Somaliland which was a protectorateProtectorate Overview

In international law a protectorate is a political entity that formally agrees by treaty to enter into an unequal relationsh...
 in 1886 after the withdrawal of EgyptEgypt Summary

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa....
. Egypt sought to prevent EuropeEurope Summary

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth....
an colonial expansion in Northeast Africa. The southern area, was colonised by Italy in 1889, became known as Italian Somaliland.

Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan, Sayyid), born in the north of the Somali peninsula, was a religious, nationalist and controversial leader. Known to the British as the "Mad Mullah", he spent 20 years leading armed resistance to the British, Italian, and Ethiopian forces in Somalia. Born into the Ogaden sub-clan of the DarodDarod

Darod is a Somali clan.The word Daarood means an 'enclosed compound,' consisting the two words of daar and ood....
, Hassan grew up in among the Dhulbahante pastoralistsPastoralism

Pastoralism is a form of farming, such as agriculture and horticulture....
 who were good herdsmenHerder

[[mythology||legends]...
 and warriorWarrior

A warrior is a person habitually engaged in warfare....
s and who used camelCamel

Camel refers to either of the two species of Camelid....
s as well as horseHorse Overview

The horse is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus....
s. Young Hassan's hero was his maternal grandfather Sade Mogan who was a great warrior chief.

Between 1900 and 1907, the Italian leaders tried several times to negotiate a land deal with the GelediGeledi

Geledi is a Somali sub-clan. They form part of the Digil clan, Geledi members primarily inhabit the Shabbele region, they ...
 Sultan based in Afgoye and his Biyo-maal and Digil warriors. In 1905 more than 1,000 Biyo-maal and Tunni warriors, along with a large number of Italians, were killed when the Italian army attacked in an attempt to gain their objectives. Though many Somali warriors were killed during the war, they still defeated the enemy and succeeded in protecting the Benadir coast. After a long and bloody battle, the Italian leaders allied with other Somali tribes and their combined strength finally destroyed the Sultan's forces.

SheikhSheikh

Shaikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh or Sheikh , is a word in the Arabic language meanin...
 Uways al-BarawiUways al-Barawi

Sheikh Uways Al-Barawi was a Somali scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th century East Africa....
 of the Tunni sub-clan of the RahanweynRahanweyn

The Rahanweyn is a Somali clan, composed of two major sub-clans, the Digil and the Mirifle....
 (Digil and Mirifle) in BarawaBarawa

Barawa or Brava is a port town in the south eastern coast of Somalia....
, lived at the same time as Hassan and led the QadiriyyahQadiriyyah

Qadiriyyah , is one of the oldest Sufi tariqas, derives its name from Abdul Qadir Jilani, a native of the Iranian province o...
 sect. He resisted the Italian occupation in a non-violentNonviolence Overview

Nonviolence is a moral philosophy that rejects the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political change, and proc...
 method. He was murdered in Biyoley, in today's BakoolFacts About Bakool

Bakool is a region in central Somalia....
 region, by the DervishDervish

The word Dervish, especially in European languages, refers to members of Sufi Muslim ascetic religious fraternities, known f...
 in 1920 as Hassan was seeking to recruit forces from Italian Somaliland. This was after the British used aircraft to destroy Hassan's base in TaleexTaleex Summary

Taleex or Taleh is a small town and administrative center of the district of the same name, located in northeast Somal...
. Sheikh Aweys rejected violence and Hassan's ways were based on violent resistance.

As a result of Hassan and his followers being chased by the followers of Sheikh al-Barawi, Hassan had to escape through the thick forest along the Jubba RiverJubba River Overview

The Juba or Jubba River is a river in southern Somalia....
 until he reached ImiIMI

IMI is a three letter acronym. It can stand for...
, Ethiopia, where he died of influenzaInfluenza

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease that infects birds and mammals and is caused by an RNA...
, and, reportedly, wounds inflicted on him during his escape.

To this day the annual pilgrimage to Sheikh al-Barawi's grave in Biyoley is held where people of the Qadiriyyah sect and admirers of al-Barawi attend.

Sheikh Hassan Barsane of the Gugundhabe, a sub-clan of the HawiyeHawiye

The Hawiye is a Somali clan, comprising about 25% of the Somali population....
, and a member of the AhmadiAhmadi

Ahmadis, are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad....
, was another Somali religious leader who resisted the Italian rule in a non-violent manner. He, like al-Barawi, rejected Hassan's approaches.

World War II

Fascist ItalyKingdom of Italy (1861–1946)

The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia;...
, under Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini Overview

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was the Prime-Minister and fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 until his overthrow in 1943...
 attacked Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), with an aim to colonize it, in 1935. The invasion was condemned by the League of NationsLeague of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919....
, but little was done to stop it or to liberate occupied Ethiopia.

On August 3 1940, Italian troops, including Somali colonial units, crossed from Ethiopia to invade British SomaliaItalian conquest of British Somaliland

The Italian conquest of British Somaliland was a campaign in the Horn of Africa which took place in the summer of 1940 and w...
 and by August 14 succeeded in taking BerberaBerbera

Berbera is a city in the Waqooyi Galbeed region of Somalia, and is currently part of the internationally unrecognized Republ...
 from the British.

A British force, including Somali troops, launched a campaign in January 1941 from Kenya to liberate British Somaliland and Italian-occupied Ethiopia and conquer Italian Somaliland. By February, most of Italian Somaliland was captured and in March, British Somaliland was retaken from the sea. The British EmpireBritish Empire

The British Empire was the most extensive empire in world history and for a substantial time was not only a major power but ...
 forces operating in Somaliland comprised three divisions of South African, West and East African troops. They were assisted by Somali patriot forces led by Abdulahi Hassan with Somalis of the IsaaqIsaaq

The Isaaq is one of the main Somali clans, comprising about 22% of the population of Somalia....
, DhulbahanteDhulbahante

The Dhulbahante is a Somali sub clan of the Harti part of the Koombe Kablalax, of the Darod tribes....
, and WarsangaliWarsangali

in the former [[British Somaliland], [[Jubada Hoose]] and the northeastern portion of [[Bari Region, Somalia|Bari]]....
 clans.

The State of Somalia

Following World War IIWorld War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers ,...
, although Somalis aided the AlliedAllies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ...
 powers in their struggle against the AxisAxis Powers

The Axis Powers were those nations opposed to the Allies during the Second World War....
 powers, Britain retained control of both British SomalilandFacts About British Somaliland

The British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the north part of the Horn of Africa, and later part of Somalia and pre...
 and Italian SomalilandItalian Somaliland

Italian Somaliland was an Italian colony that lasted, apart from a brief interlude of British rule, from the late 19th centu...
 as protectorateProtectorate

In international law a protectorate is a political entity that formally agrees by treaty to enter into an unequal relationsh...
s. In November 1949, the United Nations granted Italy trusteeship of Italian Somaliland, but only under close supervision and on the condition -- first proposed by the Somali Youth LeagueFacts About Somali Youth League

The Somali Youth League was the first political party of Somalia....
 (SYL) and other nascent Somali political organizations, such as Hizbia Digil Mirifle Somali (HDMS) (which later became Hizbia Dastur Mustaqbal Somali HDMSHDMS

HDMS may refer to:* ship prefix for Denmark...
) and the Somali National League (SNL), that were then agitating for independence -- that Somalia achieve independence within ten years. British Somaliland remained a protectorate of Britain until 1960.

Meanwhile, in 1948, under pressure from their World War II allies and to the dismay of the Somalis, the British "returned" the Hawd (an important Somali grazing area that was presumably 'protected' by British treaties with the Somalis in 1884 and 1886) and the Ogaden to Ethiopia, based on a treaty they signed in 1897 in which the British ceded Somali territory to the Ethiopian Emperor Menelik in exchange for his help against plundering by Somali clans. Britain included the provisoProviso

Sorry, no overview for this topic
 that the Somali nomads would retain their autonomy, but Ethiopia immediately claimed sovereignty over them. This prompted an unsuccessful bid by Britain in 1956 to buy back the Somali lands it had turned over.

DjiboutiDjibouti

Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a small country in eastern Africa, located in the Horn of Africa....
 gained its independence in 1977, but a referendum was held in 1958 on the eve of Somalia's independence in 1960 to decide whether or not to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France. The referendum turned out in favor of a continued association with France, largely due to a combined yes vote by the sizable AfarFacts About Afar people

Afar are an ethnic group who reside principally in the Danakil Desert in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in Eritrea and Djib...
 ethnic group and resident Europeans. However, the majority of those who voted no were Somalis who were strongly in favor of joining a united Somalia as had been proposed by Mahmoud Harbi, Vice President of the Government Council. Harbi was killed in a plane crash two years later, and Hassan Gouled AptidonHassan Gouled Aptidon

Hassan Gouled Aptidon|after=Ismal Omar Guelleh|years=1977–1999}}...
, a French-groomed Somali who campaigned for a yes vote in the referendum of 1958, eventually wound up as Djibouti's first president post-independence (1977-1991).

British Somaliland became independent on June 26 1960, and the former Italian Somaliland followed suit five days later. On July 1, 1960, the two territories united to form the Somali Republic, albeit within boundaries drawn up by Italy and Britain. A government was formed by Abdullahi IssaAbdullahi Issa

Abdullahi Issa Mohamud was born in 1922 at Afgoi....
 with Aden Abdullah Osman DaarAden Abdullah Osman Daar

Aden Abdullah Osman Daar was the first President of Somalia after its independence in 1960....
 as PresidentList of Presidents of Somalia

This page contains a list of the Presidents of Somalia. ...
, and Abdirashid Ali ShermarkeAbdirashid Ali Shermarke

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was President of Somalia from June 10, 1967 until October 15, 1969....
 as Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Somalia

List of the Heads of Government of Somalia ...
, later to become President (from 1967-1969). On July 20, 1961 and through a popular referendumReferendum

A referendum or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a part...
, the Somali people ratified a new constitutionConstitution

A constitution is a system, often codified as a written document, which establishes the rules and principles by which an org...
, which was first drafted in 1960.

However, inter-clan rivalry persisted with many clans claiming to have been forced into the state of Somalia. In 1967, Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal became Prime Minister, appointed by Shermarke (Egal was later to become President of the breakaway independent Somaliland).

In late 1969 following the assassination of President Shermarke, a military government assumed power in a coup d'étatCoup d'état

A coup d'tat , or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government through unconstitutional means by a part of the...
 led by General Siad BarreSiad Barre

Mohamed Siad Barre was the President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991....
 and Chief of Police Jama Korshel. Barre became President and Korshel vice-president. The revolutionary army established large-scale public works programmes and successfully implemented an urban and rural literacyLiteracy

The traditional definition of literacy is the ability to use language–to read, write, listen, and speak....
 campaign, which helped dramatically increase the literacy rate from 5% to 55% by the mid-1980s.

However, struggles continued during Barre's rule. At one point he assassinated a major figure in his cabinet, Major General Gabiere, and two other officials.

It was in July 1976 when the real dictatorship of the Somali military commenced with the founding of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist PartySomali Revolutionary Socialist Party

Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party, the governing political party in Somalia 1976-1991....
 (Xisbiga Hantiwadaagga Kacaanka Soomaaliyeed, XHKS). It was the single party that ruled Somalia until the fall of the military government in December 1990 - January 1991. It was violently overthrown by the combined armed revolt of the Somali Salvation Democratic FrontSomali Salvation Democratic Front Overview

Somali Salvation Democratic Front, formed in 1979 as the Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia....
 (Jabhadda Diimuqraadiga Badbaadinta Soomaaliyeed, SSDF), United Somali CongressUnited Somali Congress

The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around Hawiye clan....
 (USC), Somali National MovementSomali National Movement

The Somali National Movement is a political party in Somalia, in particular the de-facto state of Somaliland, of which it i...
 (SNM), and the Somali Patriotic MovementSomali Patriotic Movement

The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali...
 (SPM) together with the non-violent political oppositions of the Somali Democratic MovementFactions in the Somali Civil War

Over the course of the Somali Civil War, there have been many revolutionary movements and militia groups run by competing warlords...
 (SDM), the Somali Democratic AllianceFactions in the Somali Civil War

Over the course of the Somali Civil War, there have been many revolutionary movements and militia groups run by competing warlords...
 (SDA) and the Somali Manifesto Group (SMG).

The Ogaden War

In 1977 and 1978, Somalia fought with its neighbour Ethiopia in the Ogaden WarOgaden War

The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia....
, in which Somalia aimed to liberate and unite the Somali lands that had been partitioned by the former colonial powers, and to win the right of self-determination for ethnic Somalis in those territories. Somalia first engaged Kenya and Ethiopia diplomatically, but this failed. Somalia, already preparing for war, created the Ogaden National Liberation FrontOgaden National Liberation Front

The Ogaden National Liberation Front is a separatist rebel group fighting to make the region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia a...
 (ONLF, then called the Western Somali Liberation FrontWestern Somali Liberation Front Summary

Somali guerrilla activity in the Ogaden and in the Haud area east of Harer flared sporadically after Somalia gained its independen...
, WSLF) and eventually sought to capture Ogaden. Somalia acted unilaterally without consulting the international communityInternational community

The term "international community" is a phrase that can refer to either:...
, which was generally opposed to redrawing colonial boundaries, while the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state that existed...
 and the Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact

he Warsaw Pact or Warsaw Treaty, officially named the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance ,...
 countries, refused to help Somalia, and instead, backed Communist Ethiopia. For most of the war, Somalia appeared to be winning in most of Ogaden, but with Somali forces at the gates of Addis AbabaAddis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and the African Union, as well as its predecessor, the OAU....
, Soviet and CubanCuban

Cuban may refer to:* Things relating to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean...
 forces and weapons came to the aid of Ethiopia. The Somali Army was decimated and Somalia sought the help of the United StatesUnited States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is...
. Although the Carter Administration originally expressed interest in helping Somalia he later declined, as did American allies in the Middle EastMiddle East

The Middle East is a subcontinent for the historical and cultural subregion of Africa-Eurasia traditionally held to be count...
 and AsiaAsia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition....
. The Americans perhaps did not want to engage the Soviets in this period of détenteDétente

Dtente is a French term, meaning a relaxing or easing; the term has been used in international politics since th...
.

The Somali Civil War

By 1978, the moral authority of the Somali government had collapsed. Many Somalis had become disillusioned with life under military dictatorship and the regime was weakened further in the 1980s as the Cold WarCold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between dem...
 drew to a close and Somalia's strategic importance was diminished. The government became increasingly totalitarianTotalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a term employed by political scientists, especially those in the field of comparative politics, to descri...
, and resistance movementResistance movement

A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to fighting an invader in an occupied country...
s, encouraged by Ethiopia, sprang up across the country, eventually leading to the Somali Civil WarSomali Civil War

The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia, which started in 1988....
.

1991 saw great changes in Somalia. President Barre was ousted by a combined northern and southern clan based forces all of whom were backed and armed by Ethiopia. And following a meeting of the SNMSNM

SNM can refer to the following:*Sacred Name Movement...
 and northern clans' elders, the northern former British portion of the country declared its independence as Somaliland in May 1991; although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognised by any foreign government.

In January 1991, President Ali Mahdi MuhammadAli Mahdi Muhammad

Ali Mahdi Muhammad was president of Somalia from January to November of 1991, but was not able in that time to exert control...
 was selected by the manisfesto group as an interim president for the whole of Somalia until a conference between all stakeholders to be held in Djibouti in February of the same year to select a national leader. However, United Somali CongressUnited Somali Congress

The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around Hawiye clan....
 military leader General Mohamed Farrah AididFacts About Mohamed Farrah Aidid

General Mohamed Farrah Aidid was a Somali leader of the Habr Gidr subclan ....
, the Somali National MovementSomali National Movement

The Somali National Movement is a political party in Somalia, in particular the de-facto state of Somaliland, of which it i...
 leader Abdirahman Toor and the Somali Patriotic MovementSomali Patriotic Movement

The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali...
 leader Col Jess refused to recognize Mahdi as president. This caused a split between the SNM, USC and SPM and the armed groups Manifesto, Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and Somali National AllianceSomali National Alliance

The Somali National Alliance was a political alliance formed in June, 1992 with Mohamed Farrah Aidid as its head....
 (SNA) on the one hand and within the USC forces. This led efforts to remove Barre who still claimed to be the legitimate president of Somalia. He and his armed supporters remained in the south of the country until mid 1992, causing further escalation in violence, especially in the Gedo, Bay, Bakool, Lower Shabelle, Lower Juba, and Middle Juba regions. The armed conflict within the USC devastated the Mogadishu area.

The civil war disrupted agriculture and food distribution in southern Somalia. The basis of most of the conflicts was clan allegiances and competition for resources between the warring clans. James Bishop, the United States last ambassador to Somalia, explained that there is "competition for water, pasturage, and... cattle. It is a competition that used to be fought out with arrows and sabers... Now it is fought out with AK-47s." The resulting famine caused the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council Overview

The United Nations Security Council is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among na...
 in 1992 to authorize the limited peacekeeping operation United Nations Operation in Somalia I (UNOSOM I). UNOSOM's use of force was limited to self-defence and it was soon disregarded by the warring factions. In reaction to the continued violence and the humanitarian disaster, the United States organised a military coalition with the purpose of creating a secure environment in southern Somalia for the conduct of humanitarian operations. This coalition, entered Somalia in December 1992 on Operation Restore Hope and was successful in restoring order and alleviating the famine. In May 1993, most of the United States troops withdrew and UNITAF was replaced by the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II).

However, Aidid saw UNOSOM II as a threat to his power and in June 1993 his militia attacked Pakistan ArmyFacts About Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the largest branch of the Pakistan military, and is responsible for protection of the state borders, th...
 troops, attached to UNOSOM II, (see Somalia (March 1992 to February 1996)) in Mogadishu inflicting over 80 casualties. Fighting escalated until 18 American troops and more than 1,000 Somalis were killed in a raid in Mogadishu during October 1993. The UN withdrew Operation United ShieldOperation United Shield

Operation United Shield was the name given to the US military operation of evacuating all remaining 6,200 UN peacekeeping tr...
 in 3 March 1995, having suffered significant casualties, and with the rule of government still not restored.

In June 1996, Mohamed Farrah Aidid was killed in Mogadishu.

2000 – Present

Following the civil war the MajeerteenMajeerteen

The Majerteen is a Somali clan, part of the Harti group of the Darod clan....
 clan declared a self-governing state in the northeast, which took the name PuntlandPuntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
, but maintained that it would participate in any Somali reconciliation to form a new central government.

Then in 2002, Southwestern SomaliaSouthwestern Somalia

Southwestern Somalia is a supposedly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hassan Muhammad Nur "Shatigadud"...
, comprising BayBay, Somalia

Bay is an administrative region in southern Somalia....
, BakoolFacts About Bakool

Bakool is a region in central Somalia....
, Jubbada DhexeJubbada Dhexe

Middle Juba is an administrative region in southern Somalia in the historical region of Jubaland....
 (Middle Juba), GedoGedo

Gedo is an administrative region in southwestern Somalia....
, Shabeellaha HooseShabeellaha Hoose

Lower Shabele is an administrative region in southern Somalia....
 (Lower Shabele) and Jubbada HooseJubbada Hoose Summary

Lower Juba is an administrative region in the traditional region of Jubaland in southern Somalia....
 (Lower Juba) regions of SomaliaRegions of Somalia

|||}The regions of Somalia are:...
 declared itself autonomous. Although initially the instigators of this, the Rahanweyn Resistance ArmyRahanweyn Resistance Army Summary

The Rahamweyn Resistance Army, also known as the Reewin Resistance Army, was the first Reewin armed faction to emerge during...
, which had been established in 1995, was only in full control of Bay, Bakool and parts of Gedo and Jubbada Dhexe, they quickly established the de facto autonomy of Southwestern Somalia. Although conflict between Hasan Muhammad Nur ShatigadudHasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud

Colonel Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud is a Somali warlord, and chairman of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army , which sought to ...
 and his two deputies, weakened the Rahanweyn militarily from February 2006, the Southwest became central to the TFG based in the city of Baidoa. Shatigadud became Finance Minister, his first deputy Adan Mohamed Nuur MadobeAdan Mohamed Nuur Madobe

Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nuur "Madobe" was a former cabinet minister and the present Speaker of Parliament of the Transitional Fe...
 became Parliamentary Speaker and his second deputy Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade became Minister of Transport. Shatigadud also held the Chairmanship of the Rahanwein Traditional Elders' Court.

In 2004, the TFG met in NairobiNairobi

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, lying on the Nairobi River in the south of the nation....
, Kenya and published a charter for the government of the nation. The TFG capital is presently in Baidoa.

Meanwhile Somalia was one of the many countries affected by the tsunamiTsunami

A tsunami is a series of waves when a body of water, such as an ocean is rapidly displaced on a massive scale....
 which struck the Indian OceanIndian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface....
 coast following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

, including parts of [[Indon...
, destroying entire villages and killing an estimated 300 people and in 2006, Somalia was deluged by torrential rains and flooding that struck the entire Horn of AfricaFacts About Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa or Somali Peninsula is a peninsula of East Africa that juts for hundreds of kilometers into the Ara...
 affecting 350,000 people.

The tribal rivalry continued in 2006 with the declaration of regional autonomy by the state of Jubaland, consisting of parts of Gedo, Jubbada Dhexe, and the whole of Jubbada Hoose. Barre Adan Shire HiiraaleBarre Adan Shire Hiiraale

Barre Aadan Shire alias Hiiraale is a senior Parliamentarian in the Somalian parliament and former Minister for Nation...
, chairman of the Juba Valley AllianceJuba Valley Alliance

The Juba Valley Alliance is a political faction of the Somali Civil War....
, who comes from GalguduudGalguduud

Galguduud is an administrative region in central Somalia....
 in central Somalia is the most powerful leader there. Like Puntland this regional government did not want full statehood, but some sort of federal autonomy.
The 2006 civil war and invasion by Ethiopia
Conflict broke out again in early 2006 between an alliance of Mogadishu warlords known as the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-TerrorismAlliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism

The Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism is a Somali alliance created by various warlords and busines...
 (or "ARPCT") and a militiaMilitia

A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service....
 loyal to the Islamic Courts Union (or "I.C.U."), seeking to institute ShariaSharia

Sharia refers to the body of Islamic law....
 law in Somalia. Social law changes, such as the forbidding of chewing khatKhat

Khat , pronounced "cot" and also known as qat, gat, chat, and miraa, is a flowering plant native to ...
, and even the prohibition against watching movies and football in public, were part of moves by the ICU to change behaviours and impose strict social morals.

The Union was led by Sheikh Sharif AhmedSharif Ahmed

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the leader of the Islamic Court Union, which currently controls Somalia's capital of Mogadishu...
. When asked if the ICU plans to extend its control to the rest of Somalia, Sheikh Ahmed responded in an interview:

Several hundred people, mostly civilians caught in the crossfire, died during this conflict. Mogadishu residents described it as the worst fighting in more than a decade. The Islamic Courts Union accused the U.S. of funding the warlords through the Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency is an intelligence agency of the United States Government....
 and supplying them with arms in an effort to prevent the Islamic Courts Union from gaining power. The United States Department of StateUnited States Department of State Summary

The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs...
, while neither admitting nor denying this, said the U.S. had taken no action that violated the international arms embargo of Somalia. A few e-mails describing covert illegal operations by private military companies in breach of U.N. regulations have been reported by the UK Sunday newspaper The ObserverFacts About The Observer

The Observer is a United Kingdom newspaper published on Sundays....
.

By early June 2006 the Islamic Militia had control of Mogadishu, following the Second Battle of Mogadishu, and the last A.R.P.C.T. stronghold in southern Somalia, the town of JowharJowhar

Jowhar, also Johar or Giohar, formerly Villaggio Duca degli Abruzzi or Villabruzzi, is the capital t...
, then fell with little resistance. The remaining A.R.P.C.T. forces fled to the east or across the border into Ethiopia and the alliance effectively collapsed.

The Ethiopian-supported Transitional Government then called for intervention by a regional East African peacekeepingPeacekeeping Summary

Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainab...
 force. The I.C.U. meanwhile were fiercely opposed to foreign troops — particularly Ethiopians — in Somalia. claiming that Ethiopia, with its long history as an imperial power including the occupation of Ogaden, seeks to occupy Somalia, or rule it by proxy.

Meanwhile the I.C.U. and their militia took control of much of the southern half of Somalia, normally through negotiation with local clan chiefs rather than by the use of force. However, the Islamic militia stayed clear of areas close to the Ethiopian border, which had become a place of refuge for many Somalis including the Transitional Government itself, headquartered in the town of Baidoa. Ethiopia said it would protect Baidoa if threatened. On September 25 2006, the I.C.U. moved into the southern port of Kismayo, the last remaining port held by the transitional government.
Ethiopian troops entered Somalia and seized the town of Buur Hakaba on October 9, and later that day the I.C.U. issued a declaration of war against Ethiopia.

On November 1 2006, peace talks between the Transitional Government and the ICU broke down. The international community feared an all-out civil war, with Ethiopian and rival EritreaEritrea Summary

Eritrea is a country in northern East Africa....
n forces backing opposing sides in the power-struggle.

WarWar Summary

War is a conflict involving the organized use of weapons and physical force by states or other large-scale groups....
 erupted on December 21 2006 when the leader of ICU, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys said: "Somalia is in a state of war, and all Somalis should take part in this struggle against Ethiopia", and heavy fighting broke out between the Islamic militia on one side and the Somali Transitional Government allied with Ethiopian forces on the other.

In late December 2006, Ethiopia launched airstrikeAirstrike

An airstrike is a military strike by air forces on an enemy ground position, which depending on the selected tactics may or ...
s against Islamic troops and strong points across Somalia. Ethiopian Information Minister Berhan Hailu stated that targets included the town of BuurhakabaBuurhakaba

Buurhakaba is a city located in the Bay region of southwestern Somalia. ...
, near the Transitional Government base in Baidoa. An Ethiopian jet fighter strafed Mogadishu International Airport (now Aden Adde International Airport), without apparently causing serious damage but prompting the airport to be shut down. Other Ethiopian jet fighters attacked a military airport west of Mogadishu.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles ZenawiMeles Zenawi

Meles Zenawi is an Ethiopian politician....
 then announced that his country was waging war against the ICU to protect his country's sovereignty. "Ethiopian defence forces were forced to enter into war to the protect the sovereignty of the nation and to blunt repeated attacks by Islamic courts terrorists and anti-Ethiopian elements they are supporting," he said.

Days of heavy fighting followed as Ethiopian and government troops backed by tanks and jets pushed against Islamic forces between Baidoa and Mogadishu. Both sides claimed to have inflicted hundreds of casualties, but the Islamic infantry and vehicle artillery were badly beaten and forced to retreat toward Mogadishu. On 28 December, 2006, the allies entered Mogadishu after Islamic fighters fled the city. Prime Minister Ali Mohammed GhediAli Mohammed Ghedi

Ali Mohammed Ghedi is a veterinary surgeon and an African Union official; he was relatively unknown in political circles whe...
 declared that Mogadishu had been secured, after meeting with local clan leaders to discuss the peaceful hand-over of the city. Yet as of April 2008, the Transitional Federal Government and its Ethiopian allies still face frequent attacks from an Islamic insurgency.
The Battle of Ras Kamboni
The Islamists retreated south, towards their stronghold in Kismayo, fighting rearguard actions in several towns. They abandoned Kismayo, too, without a fight, claiming that their flight was a strategic withdrawal to avoid civilian casualties, and entrenched around the small town of Ras KamboniRas Kamboni

Ras Kamboni is a town in the Badhaadhe district of Lower Juba region, Somalia, which lies on a peninsula near the border w...
, at the southernmost tip of Somalia and on the border with Kenya. In early January, the Ethiopians and the Somali government attacked, resulting in the Battle of Ras KamboniBattle of Ras Kamboni

The Battle of Ras Kamboni was a battle in the 2006-2007 Somali War fought by the Islamic Courts Union and affiliated militi...
, and capturing the Islamic positions and driving the surviving fighters into the hills and forests after several days of combat. On January 9, 2007, the United States openly intervened in Somalia by sending Lockheed AC-130Lockheed AC-130

The AC-130 gunship is an armed variant of the C-130 Hercules....
 gunships to attack Islamic positions in Ras Kamboni. Dozens were killed and by then the ICU were largely defeated.

As of November 30, 2007, the fighting continued in Mogadishu between transitional government Somali and Ethiopian official troops, on one hand, and Islamic militants, on the other.

Politics



Somalia has had no effective national government since 1991. The internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government, controls only parts of Southern Somalia from its base in the town of BaidoaBaidoa

Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia....
, and is not recognized by most Somalis. On October 14, 2004, the Somali Transitional Federal ParliamentTransitional Federal Parliament

The Transitional Federal Parliament is an interim parliament of Somalia formed in neighbouring Kenya in 2004....
 elected Abdullahi Yusuf AhmedAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was born December 15,1934 in the town of Galkacyo, Mudug Region....
, previously president of PuntlandPuntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
, to be president of Somalia. Because of the situation in Mogadishu, the election was held in a sports centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Yusuf was elected with 189 of the 275 votes from members of parliament.

Many other small political organisations exist, some clan-based, others seeking a Somalia free from clan-based politics. Many of them have come into existence since the civil war. The political situation therefore remains unstable; for example, on September 18 2006, Abdullah Yusuf barely survived a suicide attack on his convoy in Baidoa, although twelve other people were killed.

In the northwest, there is the secessionist region of SomalilandSomaliland

Somaliland is an unrecognized de facto sovereign state state located in northwest Somalia in the Horn of Africa....
 with its capital in HargeisaHargeisa

Hargeisa is a city in northwestern Somalia; it is also the capital and largest city of the self-declared but unrecognized Re...
 that declared its independence in 1991. This IsaaqIsaaq Overview

The Isaaq is one of the main Somali clans, comprising about 22% of the population of Somalia....
-dominated governing zone is not recognized by any major international organization or country, although it has remained more stable and certainly more peaceful than the rest of Somalia, neighboring PuntlandPuntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
 notwithstanding.

PuntlandFacts About Puntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered around Garowe, whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous ...
 in the northeast also remains autonomous but supports the Transitional Government and, unlike Somaliland, still considers itself a part of the Somali Republic.

SanaagSanaag

Sanaag is the largest of the 18 regions ....
 Region and some parts of BariBari Summary

Bari is the capital of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic sea, in Italy....
 region there is newly declared state of MaakhirMaakhir Summary

Maakhir , officially the Maakhir State of Somalia is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Somalia on an area dis...
 which is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Somalia on an area disputed by Somaliland and Puntland. Declared in July 1, 2007, it remains unrecognized by the Transitional Federal GovernmentTransitional Federal Government

The Transitional Federal Government of the Somali Republic is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia...
 of Somalia.

MaakhirMaakhir

Maakhir , officially the Maakhir State of Somalia is a self-proclaimed autonomous state within Somalia on an area dis...
 is mainly inhabited by the WarsangaliWarsangali

in the former [[British Somaliland], [[Jubada Hoose]] and the northeastern portion of [[Bari Region, Somalia|Bari]]....
 clan, a member of the HartiHarti

Xaarti is a Somali clan. It is a sub-clan of the Darod....
 confederation of clans (along with the DhulbahanteDhulbahante

The Dhulbahante is a Somali sub clan of the Harti part of the Koombe Kablalax, of the Darod tribes....
 and MajeerteenMajeerteen

The Majerteen is a Somali clan, part of the Harti group of the Darod clan....
) and a clan of the DarodDarod Overview

Darod is a Somali clan.The word Daarood means an 'enclosed compound,' consisting the two words of daar and ood....
 tribe.

In the southwestern interior, JubalandJubaland

Jubaland or Juba Valley, formerly Trans-Juba, is the southwesternmost part of Somalia, on the far side of the Ju...
 and Southwestern SomaliaSouthwestern Somalia

Southwestern Somalia is a supposedly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hassan Muhammad Nur "Shatigadud"...
 have both recognised the TFG and local leaders are part of the government.

The southern half of the country, with the bulk of the population, as of November 2007, is unstable, following the 2006 Civil War between the Transitional Government and the Islamic Courts Union.

Westerners and those working for western organisations continue to be targets of the violence. Two aid workers, one British and the other Kenyan, were abducted in Puntland on 8 May 2007 and a western nurse and her escort were shot dead in Mogadishu on 17 September 2006.

The inhabitants of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions of the Northern Somalia have announced formations of a new political party – Northern Somali Unionist Movement (NSUM) as a grass roots Somali organization whose members and supporters hail from Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions in the Northern regions of Somalia(formerly British Somaliland) and whose clan in these regions do not identify with the Somaliland secession. NSUM stands for the promotion of peace and unity among all people of Somalia.

Capital

MogadishuMogadishu Summary

Mogadishu , is the largest city in Somalia, and its nominal capital....
 is the capital of Somalia. However, during the conflict in 2006, Mogadishu became part of the territory controlled by the Islamic Courts Union, while the Transitional Federal Government had its seat in BaidoaBaidoa

Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia....
. The Government returned to Mogadishu in December 2006 with the help of Ethiopian troops.

Geography


Somalia is located in the Horn of AfricaHorn of Africa

The Horn of Africa or Somali Peninsula is a peninsula of East Africa that juts for hundreds of kilometers into the Ara...
 with the Gulf of AdenGulf of Aden

The Gulf of Aden is located in the Indian Ocean between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in Af...
 to the north and the Indian OceanIndian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface....
 to the east. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, and Kenya to the southwest. Somalia has the longest coastCoast

The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the ocean....
line on the continent.

Climate

Major climatic factors are a year-round hot climate, seasonal monsoonMonsoon Overview

A monsoon is a wind pattern that reverses direction with the seasons....
 winds, and irregular rainfall with recurring droughtDrought

A drought is an abnormally dry period when there is not enough water to support agricultural, urban or environmental water n...
s. Mean daily maximum temperatures range from 30 °C to 40 °C (85–105 °F), except at higher elevations and along the east coast. Mean daily minimums usually vary from about 15 °C to 30 °C (60–85 °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.

Regions and districts


Prior to the civil war, Somalia was div