Information on Somalia

Somalia is an African country that is located on the Horn of Africa. If you are traveling to, or are just interested in Somalia, it is important that you become familiar with the country information. Somalia is bordered by Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. It has a population of about 9,832,017 people. The capital city of Somalia is Mogadishu, which is also the largest city in the country. The life expectancy in Somalia is only 49.6 due to a continual civil war, famine, widespread disease and little or no access to health care. 109 infants out of 1000 will die, most due to malnutrition and disease. In 2001 only 38% of the population was literate. The official language of Somalia is Somali, but English, Arabic and Italian are also spoken. The religion of almost all Somalians is Islam, although there is a very small minority of Christians in parts of Somalia. The primary exports of the country are cattle, sheep, goats, fish, sugar, bananas, corn and sorghum. Other small industries in Somalia include textiles and telecommunications. There are very few natural resources that are abundant in Somalia. Uranium is one resource that the country exports. The form of money that is used in Somalia is the Somali shilling. The country is composed of individuals of a variety of different races and ethnicities. These ethnicities include, but are not limited to Somali, Bantu, Arabs and others.

Important country information about Somalia includes that Somalia has no established central government. In 1991 the central government was overthrow and waring clans have been competing for power and control ever since. To date there seems to be no plan to instate a central government or build a formal state. Violence and brutality is a daily occurrence in Somalia and each year thousands of innocent bystanders are caught in the cross fire between rival clans, many of them being killed. Famine is wide spread throughout Somalia and 300,000 people have died from starvation and malnutrition due to crop failure brought on by drought. Other essential country information is that travel is extremely dangerous and not recommended unless absolutely necessary. If there is no way to avoid travel to Somalia you should consult an expert on the best way to remain safe in a war torn country. United States citizens who are going to travel to Somalia regardless of the travel warnings are strongly advised to register with the State Department’s travel registration to receive vital country information as well as updates on security. Other important country information about Somalia is that the Somalian coast is teeming with pirates. These pirates are known to capture ships and hold them, as well as the cargo and the crew hostage. They demand ransom for the release of hostages and cargo. Though most of Somalia is extremely dangerous and rife with violence, there is an exciting blend of cultures that meld in this country due to a long history of trade and commerce. Hopefully on day the civil strife will end and it will be safe for people to experience the blend of cultures and the sites in Somalia.