The SIAD BARRE regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed in the years since. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool.

Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag.

Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG), created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expired in August 2003. New Somali President Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed has formed a new Transitional Federal Government (TFG) consisting of a 275-member parliament. It was established in October 2004 to replace the TNG but has not yet moved to Mogadishu. Discussions regarding the establishment of a new government in Mogadishu are ongoing in Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of the capital city as well as for other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further complicates the picture.

CAPITAL Mogadishu

SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government.

AREA 637,657 Sq Km

CURRENCY The official currency is the Somali Shilling (SOS)

POPULATION of about 9 million people.

POPULATION GROWTH RATE 3.38% (2005 est.)

ETHNIC GROUPS Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000).

TOTAL FERTILITY RATE 6.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)

LANGUAGES Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English.

RELIGIONS Sunni Muslim.

CLIMATE 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.

ECONOMY GDP - per capita = 600 USD (2004 est.)

MILITARY expenditures consume 0,9% of the country's GNP (2003 est.).

LITERACY Definition: age 15 and over can read and write. Total population: 37.8%, Male: 49.7%, Female: 25.8% (2001 est.)