Somalia

= Somalia =



==  ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍__‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍Geography__   __ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍And Location __   == Somalia is located on the east coast of Africa and north of the Equator and, with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Kenya, and is often referred to as the Horn of Africa media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=somalia&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.052328,64.248047&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Somalia&ll=5.152149,46.199616&spn=23.195691,32.124023&t=m&z=5&output=embed" width="382" height="315" align="center"

It comprises Italy's former Trust Territory of Somalia and the former British Protectorate of Somaliland.
 * The coastline extends 2,720 kilometers (1,700 mi.).
 * The northern part of the country is hilly, and in many places.
 * The central and southern areas are flat.
 * The Juba and the Shabelle Rivers rise in Ethiopia and flow south across the country toward the Indian Ocean. (found at http://www.state.gov)

__Why is Somalia Like the Way it is?__
Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991

In 1991, a rebel group called the United Somali Congress(USC) overthrew Somalia's military regime and took control of the capital. Fighting broke out in and around Mogadishu between USC factions. Other rebel groups gained power in other parts of Somalia ([|http://www.worldbookonline.com])

This instability, which is still prevalent, is a result of these countries following a strategy of distracting Somalis with endless conflicts, with yet another conflict beginning when the previous one had barely ended (http://amec.org.za)

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">In Somalia, any effort at reconciliation or the restoration of stability rarely moves one step forward before it falls back many steps. The most recent effort was the Arta Conference in Djibouti, in 2000. (http://amec.org.za) <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">In February 2011, the TFG(Transitional Federal Government) unilaterally extended its mandate by 3 years, from August 2011 to August 2014, without consultation with the international community. The international community almost unanimously opposed this action due to the absence of a TFG roadmap for securing the end of the transition and completing the transitional tasks outlined in the Djibouti Peace Agreement, and the lack of projected governance reforms ([|http://www.state.gov]) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">All this resulted in continuous conflict between Somalia and her neighbours – mainly Ethiopia and Kenya, whose policies aimed to dismantle Somali unity, encourage insurgency against the Barre regime, and flood the country with arms (http://amec.org.za)

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Ethiopia has played an overt military role in Somalia. Not only has Ethiopia been a major source of weapons for a number of Somali groups, Ethiopia has also invaded and occupied parts of Somalia. (http://www.banadir.com/somalis.shtml)

Somalia lacks natural resources and faces major development challenges. (http://www.state.gov)

The fighting in Somalia caused disruptions in food production and distribution, which, coupled with a drought, led to widespread starvation. ([|http://www.worldbookonline.com])

<span style="color: #0842e2; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">__Economy__


<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Because of the lack of a central government, there is no central banking system in Somalia. Each business is entitled to make their own money and do so, which makes it hard to measure inflation each year with all the different types of money. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> ([] )

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Despite the lack of a centralized money system, agriculture, remittance/money, transfer companies , and telecommunications help run a healthy economy. <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> Agriculture is the most important sector, mainly livestock, accounting for about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> ([] )

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> Nomads and semi-pastoralists make up a large portion of the population. <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">while sugar, sorghum, corn, and machined goods are the principal imports. <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">([])

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">The industrial economy of Somalia comprises of sugar refinery, textiles, petroleum refinery, and telecommunication industry. <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Somalia’s telecommunication agencies also offer the lowest of international charges in the entire continent of Africa. <span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">([])

<span style="color: #e24f08; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Due to the displacement of people all over the country, the unemployment rate cannot be calculated. ([] )

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 130%;">The reasons behind the **Somalian poverty** are:

 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Frequent famine and droughts
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">The unfavorable climatic condition
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">The unavailability of fertile soil as the country is situated at the coastal region of Africa.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Inadequate literacy.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Lack of proper planning in the government sectors
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">Political crisis

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at:[])

<span style="color: #0842e2; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; text-align: left;">Arrest and Detention:
<span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Judicial systems were not well established, were not based upon codified law, did not function, or simply did not exist in most areas of the country. <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The country's previously codified law requires:
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">warrants based on sufficient evidence issued by authorized officials for the apprehension of suspects
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">prompt notification of charges and judicial determinations
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">prompt access to lawyers and family members
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">and other legal protections for the detained
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">adherence to these procedural safeguards was rare.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">There was no functioning bail system or the equivalent.

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">In the absence of enforced constitutional or other legal protections, the TFG, its allied militias, and various clan militias across the country continued to engage in arbitrary arrest and detention without due process. As shown on the 2010 Human Rights Report on Somalia ([])

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Al-Shabaab and Hisbul Islam militias across the south central region arbitrarily arrested persons and detained them without charge.

<span style="color: #0842e2; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies:
<span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The inability of the judiciary to handle civil cases involving such matters as defaulted loans or other contract disputes encouraged clans to take matters into their own hands and led to increased inter-clan conflict. <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">With the breakdown of the rule of law and the lack of a coherent legal system or effective government, individuals were not afforded adequate protection or recourse <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at [])

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Disappearances:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at [])
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Abduction is used as a tactic by clans during disputes and the abductees are often international staff memebers or foreigners.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Clan militia groups and criminal gangs make ransom demands on abductees or demand property or hostage exchanges as preconditions to the release of abductees.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Somalia is espcially famous for its Pirates.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">These pirates attack ships from any country and take prsioners along with all of their belongs. These attacks have had huge coverage all over the world.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Sources from international NGOs suggested that pirates were holding approximately 20 vessels and 630 persons at the end of 2010.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Torture:
> <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at [])
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Various clan militias, al-Shabaab, and Hisbul Islam continue to torture their rivals and civilians.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Rape is commonly used against women, not only by the rebel groups, but also by police officers
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Being tortured in prison is expected along with terrible living and sanitary conditions

<span style="color: #0842e2; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Killings:
<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at [])
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The TFG or its agents did not commit any politically motivated killings. However, there were several reports that the TFG or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Prominent peace activists, community leaders, clan elders, and their family members became targets and were killed or injured for their roles in attempted peace building.
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">children were caught in crossfire during fighting between forces.

> (found at:World Development Indicatior)
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Populations : 9.3 million people
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Populations growth (annually): 2.3%
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Life Expectancy at birth: 50.6 years
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Mortality rate, infant( per 1000 babies) : 108.3
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Prevalence of HIV/AIDS(% of population 15-49): .07

<span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">(found at :[])
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Maternal mortality rate: 1200/100000 live births
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">only 30% of the drinking water is improved
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">food or waterborne diseases: <span class="category_data" style="vertical-align: top;">bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Schooling: 3 total years
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Median age: 17.8
 * <span style="color: #ff7200; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Languages: Somali,Arabic,Italian, and English

<span style="color: #0842e2; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 150%; text-align: center;">__Quotes__
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">

Work cited

“Somalia-Data & Statistic .” //web.worldbank.org//. The world bank group, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. [].

“Somalia Poverty.” //www.mapsofworld.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. [].

“Somalia Quotes.” //BrainyQuotes.com//. Book Rags Media Network, 2001-2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. [].

Swensson, Andrea. “Bono, K’naan meet with Somali activists in Minnesota.” //CityPages.com//. Voice Nation, 25 July 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. [].

“2010 Human Rignts Report : Somalia.” //www.state.gov//. U.S., 8 Apr. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. [].

"Somalia." //www.cia.gov//. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html>.

"Somalia "//www.mapsofworld.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.<[]>.