Africa A to Z: Continental and Country Profiles: Third Edition

Somalia

COUNTRY PROFILES A-Z Africa Institute of South Africa | Africa A-Z: Continental and Country Profiles 345 Somalia Orientation Extending over 3 000 km, Somalia’s barren coastline is longer than that of any other African country. On the map the coastline resembles a rhino horn, hence the designation Horn of Africa for this part of the continent. The Ras Hafun Peninsula, just south of Cape Guardafui (Ras Asir) at the Horn’s tip, is Africa’s most easterly point. Neighbouring Ethiopia’s Ogaden region wedges into central Somalia, virtually dividing Somalia into two parts: Northern Somalia (the former British Somaliland) and Southern Somalia (formerly Italian Somaliland). The region between the port city of Mogadishu and the town of Garoe, in the north, is often referred to as Central Somalia. In the north, along the Gulf of Aden, are high mountain ranges that are extensions of Ethiopia’s southern highlands. Receiving very little rainfall, the northern region is the hottest and driest in the country, except for the area around the city of Hargeysa in the northwest which enjoys higher rainfall. Boswellia and commiphora trees, growing in the arid highlands, are the sources of frankincense and myrrh for which Somalia has been renowned since ancient times. To the south of the northern mountains, the entire country consists of monotonous plains below 500 m above sea level. Rainfall is higher in the south, up to 500 mm annually, sustaining dry savannah vegetation. The country’s two perennial rivers, the Juba and the Shibeli, run parallel to each other in the south. Both rivers rise in the Ethiopian highlands and the fairly level low-lying area between them, in Somalia, is the only land suitable for crop cultivation. This area is known as Somalia’s “granary”. The Juba and Shibeli rivers drain into the sea south of Mogadishu. In some years heavy rains in Ethiopia cause the rivers to burst their banks, flooding the area. Much of the coast consists of wide stretches of sand dunes which tend to shift inland where the natural vegetation has been destroyed by overgrazing. People Somalia is a rarity in sub-Saharan Africa in that it is culturally and religiously fairly homogeneous. Virtually all the people are Muslims, speaking dialects of the Somali language that is the official language besides Arabic. Somali is a Cushitic language like the languages of the Oromo and Afar peoples in neighbouring Ethiopia and Djibouti. The eastern part of Ethiopia has a large Somali population. Despite the cultural homogeneity, Somali society is riven by group rivalry. All Somali-speakers belong to several clusters of peoples or clans, living COUNTRY PROFILES A-Z 346 Africa A-Z: Continental and Country Profiles | Africa Institute of South Africa in different parts of the country. Each clan may comprise one or more sub-clans. In the Juba-Shibeli riverine region and along the southern coast are non-Somali minorities, speaking Swahili. The main European languages spoken, mainly in business, are English and Italian. Somalia has a rather small urban population, less than a third of the total population. The port city of Mogadishu is the largest town, with more than a million inhabitants. Other significant towns are Hargeysa and the port cities of Berbera and Bosaso in northern Somalia, and the port city of Kismayu in southern Somalia. About half the population are nomadic herders who are constantly on the move with their livestock. Economy The formal economy has collapsed over the last decade and no reliable economic data have been forthcoming. In 1988 the International Monetary Fund declared Somalia ineligible for further borrowing and since then the country has not paid its foreign debts. The bulk of GDP and exports have always been contributed by the country’s livestock herders. In the past Somalia exported livestock products to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries but these exports have now dwindled, including those of bananas, the main cash crop, from the Juba-Shibeli riverine region. The coastal waters are rich fishing grounds, though the fishing industry is still in the infant stage. The country has iron ore, uranium, beryl, columbite and other mineral deposits but none of these, except for salt and gypsum, are being exploited. Much of the already inadequate physical infrastructure was destroyed in the civil wars of the 1990s. There are no railways and roads are in a poor condition. Seaports and airports are often not functioning and the country is poorly served by commercial airlines. Telecommunications services...