Somalia

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Somalia
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Africa
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Somalia
Capital
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(No Transcript)
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Red Sea
Arabian Peninsula
Gulf of Aden
North
Somalia
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North
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North
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Geography

• Land area-slightly smaller than texas
• Borders-Nw-Djibouti west-Ethiopia Sw-Kenya
• Climate-mainly desert
• Terrain-mostly plateau, hills in north
• Natural resources-uranium
• Unused reserves-iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite,
  copper, salt

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Geography Continued

• Natural hazards-droughts, dust storms, rainy
  season floods
• Environmental problems-water pollution,
  deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion,
  desertification
• Strategic location-Horn of Africa, access to red
  sea

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People

• Population-about 7.5 million
• Almost half 0-14 years old
• Population growth rate-3.5
• Life expectancy-47 years
• Religions-Sunni Muslim
• Official language-Somali
• Literacy rate-24

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government

• Government type-parliamentary
• Suffrage-universal-age 18
• October 2000-Interim transitional national
  government-president, prime minister, 245 member
  national assembly
• Other governing bodies exist-control various
  regions within the country

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economy

• One of the worlds poorest least developed
  countries
• Few resources
• Economy-devastated by civil war
• GDP-4.3 billion (per capita-600)
• GDP-agriculture-60 Services-30 Industry-10
• Inflation rate-over 100-businesses print their
  own money

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Communications

• Public Telecommunications system-completely
  destroyed by civil war factions
• Only 1/2 million radios (Primary means of
  communication)- opposed to 575 million in the US
• Only 200 internet users-150 million in the US

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Transportation

• Railways-None
• Highways-22,000 km (6.5 million km in US)
• Major Waterways-None
• Airports with paved runways-5
• Seriously lacking in all aspects of
  transportation

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Military

• Somali National Army-being reformed under interim
  govt.
• Numerous factions maintain independent militias
• Military manpower-Fit for military service (Males
  age 15-49) Just more than 1 million

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Culture

• Origin-Islamic tradition
• Dress-Women-wear a HIJAB (dress that covers the
  body except for hands face) Men-clothes cover
  between waist knees
• Food-prohibit eating any food containing pork or
  alcohol

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Culture Continued

• Prayers-pray five times a day no matter where
  they are
• Somali schools-specific places for prayer as to
  not interrupt the students learning
• Before prayer-Somalis go through the process of
  ablution (to wash the face, arms, legs)

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Culture Continued

• Ramadan-people fast an entire month to follow
  guidance of the Quran Allah
• Ninth month of Islamic calendar
• Fast from dawn to sunset
• Only eat during the night
• After sunset (Afur) before dawn (Suhur)
• Tarawih-Prayer session after the Afur-pray at the
  mosque

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Culture Continued

• Traditional holidays-first is at the end of
  Ramadan
• Hold a prayer festival for three days
• Give gifts, wear new clothing, visit each other
• Celebrate their completion of Ramadan
• Second holiday-last month of the Islamic
  calendar-hold a large feast

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Culture Continued

• Traditional Greetings-People dont shake hands
  for greeting unless they are spouses
• Pets-Somalis are prohibited to touch the saliva
  of a dog
• If they do-they must wash their hands seven times
  before they pray
• avoid dogs as much as possible

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Culture Continued

• Education-children go to Quranic school at age
  three-learn to read write the Holy Quran
• After age six-children in urban areas attend
  school regularly
• Attendance is mandatory-not enforced in rural
  areas
• Official language-Somali

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Culture Continued

• Arabic-second language-taught in all public
  schools
• Have no special education programs
• Country has only one university
• Has had no solid educational system since
  1991-civil unrest
• Some private schools-not many families can pay

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Current Events

• March 3-Un Secretary General, Kofi Annan, says
  the security situation in Mogadishu is still too
  uncertain for a long-term Un security presence
• March 3-Ethiopias ambassador to the UN denies
  claims by Djibouti that Ethiopia is interfering
  in Somalias affairs

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Current Events

• March 3-A United Nations staffer was abducted in
  Mogadishu by a group of unknown gunmen
• March 1-A national officer working for the UN
  Childrens Fund (UNICEF) was kidnapped by gunmen
  in Mogadishu
• February 27-The police and immigration officials
  deported 18 Somali nationals to Kenya

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Current Events

• February 26-The government of Djibouti criticized
  comments made by Ethiopias ambassador to the UN
  regarding Somalia warned that any interference
  in Somalia would threaten regional stability
• February 26-Fighting erupted in Mogadishu leaving
  at least 12 people dead an unknown number of
  others wounded

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Current Events

• February 25-A Swiss aid worker was murdered in
  the town of Marka and was described as an angel
  of mercy by local residents
• February 20-Hundreds of families are fleeing
  their homes in the southwestern regions of
  Somalia for fear of renewed fighting

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Current Events

• February 19-At least 40 people were killed and
  another 50 wounded in renewed fighting in
  Bardhere, about 400 km west of Mogadishu