somalia's leader
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president after the end of Siad Barre's ruling in 1991. This is the first time that a new leader has been chosen inside the country in Somalia. Mohamud is 57 years old and is a professor and activist who has worked for several national and international peace and development organizations. Last year, Hassan founded what was claimed the first political party in Mogadishu known as the Peace and Development Party. Touching the Qur'an with his right hand, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was sworn in as president within minutes of his poll victory.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/10/somalia-chooses-new-president-elections)
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/10/somalia-chooses-new-president-elections)
Somalia's government
An anarchy was formed in Somalia in 1992. An anarchy is a state of society with no law or government control. Since 2004, Somalia has had a transitional government. A transitional government is a government that's set up to prepare the way for a permanent government. (quizlet.com/19083574/history-imperialism-and-somalia-flash-cards/) and (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/anarchy?s=t) and (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100504183557AA7Wwb4)
Somalia's economy
Other than the lack of governance in Somalia, the country has balanced a healthy economy mostly based on livestock, money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Somalia's telecommunication service provides wireless services in most cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. Agriculture is the most important part of livestock with about 40% GDP (gross domestic product) and more than 50% of export earnings. The nomads and semi-pastoralists are the most supportive upon livestock for their living and make up most of Somalia's population. Somalia exports livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas. The country imports sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods. Money transfer services have spread throughout the country, transporting up to $1.6 billion in money earnings yearly. (http://www.indexmundi.com/somalia/economy_profile.html)
somalia's challenges
Droughts in this country occur every 3 years since 1990. A drought is a long period of dry weather with no rainfall. Deforestation is another challenge that Somalia faces which is the loss of cutting down trees. By 1992, all trade, industrial, and agricultural activities had stopped, large numbers of people were forced to leave their homes, and more than six million people were at risk of starvation. In 1993, donors pledged $130 million toward Somalia's reconstruction. This aid helped calm the food situation and few communities were at risk of widespread famine in 1997. In 2001, the lack of rainfall caused major food shortages in the south of the country. Fighting and a lack of command prevented significant improvements in economic conditions. By 2005, Somalia was still a very busy country with little political stability. Somalia still faces these challenges today including famine shortages, droughts occurring every 3 years, and a poor government.
(http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/sep2011/somalia.html) and (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Somalia.aspx)
(http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/sep2011/somalia.html) and (http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Somalia.aspx)
somalia's rank in wealth
Somalia is a very poor country. The country has witnessed high rates of economic growth for over three decades that it now counts among the largest economies in the world. Somalia remains one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world, with 3.2 million people in need of assistance and 1 in 7 Somalis having fled their homes.
(http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/wealth-does-not-lead-to-worldclass-institutions/article4336911.ece) and
(http://www.merlinusa.org/where-we-work/somalia/)
(http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/wealth-does-not-lead-to-worldclass-institutions/article4336911.ece) and
(http://www.merlinusa.org/where-we-work/somalia/)
somalia's human rights issues
People who want to improve the happiness and welfare of others, journalists, and human rights activists are at a risk of killings and abductions (the taking away of a child from its parents). Armed groups control most of southern and central Somalia and often carry out illegal killings, torture, and forced recruitment. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) controls part of Mogadishu and there is no functioning justice system. Serious human rights abuses including war crimes, are met with punishment. Somalia also carries out the death penalty. (http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/africa/somalia)
somalia's education
Education suffers because school buildings are damaged and destroyed during dangerous attacks in urban areas. In Mogadishu, many schools have closed down as students and teachers are scared of getting injured and killed on their way to school. Only 710,860 children out of an estimated 1.7 million of primary school age children (42%) are in school. Of the 42% attending school, 36% are girls. 15% of the teaching staff are women while the rest are men. Less than 38% of the children enrolled in 2001/2002 in first grade successfully moved on to fifth grade in 2006/2007. The demand for secondary school education continues to grow slowly, but only 28% of girls make up the secondary school level. (http://www.unicef.org/somalia/education.html)
daily life in somalia
Part of the day consists of seeing a large group of travelers going through the vast inland plateau with thousands of camels and sheep, their houses, made of skins, carried on the backs of the camels along with the cooking pots. The women wear full skirts of joyfully-colored cotton and are much more free than most Moslem women anywhere else. They travel for long distances looking for water and grass, or other plants to feed the sheep and camels. They spend about nine months of the year travelling this way. They have a passionate love for poetry and a great appreciation of their Somali language which is not a written language.
(The Horn of Africa, By Gordon Waterfield- Documentary)
(The Horn of Africa, By Gordon Waterfield- Documentary)
Effects of Colonial rule
Since areas of tribes and clans were divided while colonized, when Somalia became an independent country, there were conflicts with the borders and neighboring countries. There are Somali people living in other countries, due to the borders created when Somalia gained independence. Somalia tried to improve the borders, but nothing was changed. The United States has military bases in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Eritrea, all bordering or near Somalia. Somalia wants to have its own military, so it does not appear weak to its neighbors with strong armies. Somalia also wished to support Somali in Ethiopia, and try to regain some territories by their power. Western forces, however, are against the idea of Somalia creating a military.
(http://www.michelcollon.info/Somalia-How-Colonial-Powers-drove.html?lang=fr)
(http://www.michelcollon.info/Somalia-How-Colonial-Powers-drove.html?lang=fr)