In 1991, president Siad Barre was ousted. The country fell apart in numerous districts controlled by warlords. In 1992 the country experienced a devastating famine. Humanitarian aid organizations found Somalia an extremely difficult terrain to work in, as they were targetted as potential hostages by the various political factions, who also tried to direct the food supplies to their respective clientele.

In 1992, UN forces, the most important contingent being from the U.S., landed to establish order. In 1993, UN forces made an attempt to arrest one warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid; it ended in a disaster. UN forces were withdrawn; Somalia again in the hands of the various warlords. Former British SOMALILAND unilaterally declared it's independence (1994), as did the northern stretch of former Italian Somalia, under the name of PUNTLAND. Both secessionist states lack international recognition.

Climate:
Living in a country of geographic extremes, with a dry and hot climate and a landscape of thornbush savanna and semidesert, the inhabitants of Somalia have developed equally demanding economic survival strategies.

Somalia lies astride the equator and so belongs to the tropics. Unlike typical climates at this latitude, conditions in Somalia range from arid in the northeastern and central regions to semiarid in the northwest and south.

Principally desert, December to February-northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south, May to October-southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons


Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in the north


Natural hazards: Recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season


Environment/environmental issues:
Famine, use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification

Owing to inappropriate land use, the original vegetation cover, especially in northern Somalia, has been heavily degraded and in various places even entirely destroyed. This progressive destruction of plant life also has impaired animal habitats and reduced forage, affecting not only Somalia's greatest resource, its livestock (chiefly goats, sheep, camels, and cattle), but also the wildlife.

At present there are still many species of wild animals throughout the country--especially in the far south: hyenas, foxes, leopards, lions, warthogs, ostriches, small antelopes, and a large variety of birds. Unfortunately, giraffes, zebras, oryx, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, and, above all, elephants have been decimated, elephants being slaughtered chiefly by ivory poachers. Measures to protect endangered species have been taken by creating a national park in the lower Shabeelle swamp region.


Language(s): Somali (official), Arabic, Italian and English

The Somali language belongs to the Cushitic language family. Despite several regional dialects, it is understood throughout the country. The second official language is Arabic, which is spoken chiefly in northern Somalia and in the coastal towns. Owing to Somalia's colonial past, many people have a good command of English and Italian, which also are used in colleges and in the university. Swahili also is spoken in the south.

In 1973 Somalia adopted an official orthography based on the Latin alphabet. Until then, Somali had been an unwritten language.


Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000


Religion: Sunni Muslim

Most Somali belong to the Shafi'i rite of the Sunnite sect of Islam. Various Muslim orders (tariqa) are important, especially the Qadiriyah, the Ahmadiyah, and the Salihiyah.


Economy:
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. 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, corn 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 ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas interfered with any substantial economic advance and with international aid arrangements.