Somalia

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a country in the Horn of Africa. It borders Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the west, Kenya to the southwest, and has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Its capital and largest city is Mogadishu. The population is estimated at around 18 to 20 million, with the Somali people forming the majority. Somali and Arabic are official languages; Islam is the predominant religion.

Geography ranges from arid and semi-arid regions in the north to more fertile river basins in the south. The Shebelle and Jubba rivers are among the main waterways. The economy is largely informal, based on pastoralism, livestock exports, and remittances. Fishing and agriculture contribute, but decades of conflict and drought have hampered development and infrastructure.

Somalia achieved independence on 1 July 1960, through the unification of British and Italian Somaliland. A civil war began in 1991 and led to a long period without a functioning central government. In the 2010s, a federal framework emerged and the Federal Government began to exercise authority in parts of the country. The self-declared state of Somaliland lies in the north and operates independently of the Somali government, though its status is not internationally recognized.

Politically, the country is a federal republic with a president, a prime minister, and a bicameral parliament. Security remains a major challenge due to al-Shabaab and sporadic violence. International efforts, including those of the United Nations and the African Union Mission in Somalia, focus on stabilization, governance, and humanitarian relief.

Somalia is a member of regional organizations such as the African Union and the Arab League. Its culture features strong oral traditions, poetry, and music, and its history reflects extensive maritime trade across the Horn of Africa.