Somalia 2006

Somalia 2006

In 2006, Somalia was a nation located in the Horn of Africa with a population of approximately 10 million people. The official language was Somali and the majority of the population practiced Islam. The economy was largely based on subsistence farming, fishing, and livestock herding and its main exports included bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, and scrap metal.

According to constructmaterials, the government at this time was a transitional federal government led by Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi who had been in power since October 2004. Despite its long history of political instability and civil conflict, Somalia had seen some progress towards stability in recent years which continued into 2006. In terms of education, access to basic education was still limited due to the lack of infrastructure and resources but literacy rates were higher amongst adults aged 15-24 years old than other age groups.

Overall, Somalia in 2006 was a diverse nation that embraced its cultural heritage whilst struggling with economic development due to the effects of civil war and political instability. Despite its turbulent past, it slowly started to recover from conflict and make progress towards stability and prosperity. It also enjoyed strong relationships with neighbouring countries as well as with members of the African Union which helped to foster an atmosphere of peace and stability.

Yearbook 2006

Somalia. After years of fighting each other and laying large parts of Mogadishu in ruins, the capital’s warlords joined together at the beginning of the year against the militia formed by the city’s Islamic courts. Unofficially, US sources confirmed that the United States supported the warlords with money and intelligence, as the Islamist militia is suspected to be linked to the al-Qaeda terror network. During periodic fierce fighting, which required at least 350 casualties, the Islamists gradually took control of Mogadishu and in June expelled the last warlords. For the first time in fifteen years, a relative measure of peace and security entered the city, and the international airport could be reopened after eleven years of closure. Less popular was that the entertainment facilities were closed, that the popular drug khat was banned and that compliance with Islam’s rules began to be controlled. Failure to pray five times a day would be punished with death. However, the city was not safe.

According to CountryAAH, major public holidays in Somalia include Independence Day (July 1) and New Year (January 1). Swedish journalist Martin Adler was shot dead on June 23 when he came to report on the takeover of Islamists.

The court militia, which took the name of the Supreme Court of Islamic Courts (SICC), extended its influence over large parts of southern and central Somalia during the summer and autumn. Warlords and elder councils in some cities volunteered to join the SICC, other places were entered after fighting.

The internationally recognized interim government and parliament set up in the city of Baidoa northwest of Mogadishu but soon controlled only the city and its immediate surroundings. Repeated international attempts to mediate between the SICC and the interim government failed. Parliament appealed for an international peacekeeping force and in September the African Union (AU) decided in principle to send 8,000 men to Somalia to support the interim government. In December, the UN Security Council approved the AU force. The SICC frantically opposed any foreign intervention and, in particular, accused Ethiopia of meddling. Ethiopia has long denied sending troops to Somalia, but by the end of December thousands were deployed to the interim government. Ethiopian bombing, armor and artillery quickly drove the SICC back. Many Islamist soldiers fell, local militia that had just joined the Islamists returned to the government side and the hard core of the SICC was retreating south. Just before the New Year, Ethiopians captured Mogadishu and late in the New Year’s Eve, the SICC’s last stronghold, the city of Kismaayo, fell to the south. Although the interim government was now able to install itself in the capital for the first time, its opportunities to take control of the country seemed small without continued Ethiopian support.

Somalia Map with Surrounding Countries

Economy

Inflation rate 1.50%
Unemployment rate
Gross domestic product (GDP) $ 20,440,000,000
GDP growth rate 2.30%
GDP per capita 400 USD
GDP by sector
Agriculture 60.20%
Industry 7.40%
Service 32.50%
State budget
Revenue k. A.
Expenditure k. A.
Proportion of the population below the national poverty line
Distribution of household income
Top 10% k. A.
Lower 10% k. A.
Industrial production growth rate 3.50%
Investment volume
National debt 76.70% of GDP
Foreign exchange reserves $ 30,450,000