Somalia

C

Currency and Banking

The monetary unit of Somalia is the Somali shilling, consisting of 100 cents (1,415 shillings equalled US$1; early 2008), issued by the Central Bank of Somalia (1960; Bankiga Dhexe ee Soomaaliya). Somalia is a member of the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank.

D

Commerce and Trade

In 2000 Somalia’s exports totalled about US$110 million, and imports about US$250 million. The chief exports were livestock and bananas. Other exports included meat, fish, leather and hides, and wood. The principal imports were foodstuffs, chemicals, machinery, textiles, and petroleum. Somalia’s major trading partners are Italy, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Kenya, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and China.

E

Transport

Somalia has no railways. There are about 22,100 km (13,732 mi) of roads, but only 12 per cent are paved. In 1997 there were 0.1 passenger cars for every 1,000 people. Mogadishu is the main port. Until the early 1990s, a government-owned airline and several foreign airlines provided international services. There are five domestic airports and international airports at Mogadishu, Berbera, and Erigavo.

F

Communications

Two government-owned radio stations broadcast in Arabic, English, Italian, Somali, and several other languages; television broadcasting has ceased since the demolition of the country’s only television station. The collapse of Somalia’s infrastructure because of the civil war has caused widespread disruption to the country’s telecommunications systems; relief organizations use their own systems.

V

Government

A

Executive and Legislature

The overthrow of President Muhammad Siad Barre in January 1991 left Somalia in a state of civil war, with no clear central governmental authority. Previously, under the 1979 constitution, as subsequently amended, executive power was held by a president, who was head of state and leader of the country’s sole legal political party, the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party. He was nominated by the party’s Central Committee, was elected to a seven-year term by direct universal vote, and served as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Legislative power was vested in the 177-member People’s Assembly. The president appointed 6 members, and the other 171 were popularly elected; all served five-year terms.

In 2000 an interim National Assembly of 245 members voted in a new president and prime minister; however, neither are recognized by the breakaway regions of Somaliland and Puntland, and the state is still effectively without official governmental rule. The main political parties are the United Somali Congress (USC) parties, the Somali National Movement, the Somali Democratic Movement, and the Somali Patriotic Movement. In 2004 a president was elected to run the country and in November a prime minister was named and a government appointed.

The highest civilian courts in Somalia were the supreme court, two courts of appeal, and eight regional courts. The 84 district courts had civil and criminal sections. Most regions have now reverted to Islamic law. For purposes of local administration Somalia is divided into 18 regions and 84 districts.