1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Agriculture

accounts for 50% of GDP; most production based on small subsistence farms; cotton and livestock products account for over 70% of exports; other crops - millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats

dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops - bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food; distribution of food disrupted by civil strife; fishing potential largely unexploited

Airports

total: 33 usable: 27 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 11

total: 76 usable: 59 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 24

Area

total area: 1.24 million sq km land area: 1.22 million sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

total area: 637,660 sq km land area: 627,340 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Birth rate

51.79 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

45.97 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)

NA

Budget

revenues: $376 million expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Capital

Bamako

Mogadishu

Climate

subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

3,025 km

Constitution

new constitution adopted in constitutional referendum in 12 January 1992

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents

Death rate

20.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

13.53 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $41 million, 2% of GDP (1989)

$NA, NA% of GDP

Digraph

ML

SO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Siragatou Ibrahim CISSE chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-2249 or 939-8950

Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $349 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.02 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $92 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $190 million

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336 million

Electricity

capacity: 260,000 kW production: 750 million kWh consumption per capita: 90 kWh (1991)

capacity: former 75,000 kW is almost completely shut down by the destruction of the civil war; UN, relief organizations, and foreign military units in Somalia use their own portable power systems production: NA consumption per capita: NA

Environment

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of safe drinking water; poaching natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban

current issues: use of contaminated water contributes to health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Ethnic divisions

Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); election last held in April 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); Alpha KONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister

Somalia has no functioning government; presidential elections last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIAD was reelected without opposition

Exports

$330 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: cotton, livestock, gold partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

$58 million (1990 est.) commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hides partners: Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)

External debt

$2.6 billion (1991 est.)

$1.9 billion (1989)

FAX

[223] 228059

Fiscal year

calendar year

calendar year

Flag

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

Highways

total: 15,700 km paved: 1,670 km unpaved: gravel, improved earth 3,670 km; unimproved earth 10,360 km

total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: gravel 3,000 km; improved, stabilized earth 16,800 km (1992)

Imports

$682 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, construction materials, petroleum, textiles partners: mostly franc zone and Western Europe

$249 million (1990 est.) commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials partners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)

Independence

22 September 1960 (from France)

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

Industrial production

growth rate -1.4% (1992 est.); accounts for 13.0% of GDP

growth rate 0% (1990); accounts for 4% of GDP

Industries

small local consumer goods and processing, construction, phosphate, gold, fishing

a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining; probably shut down by the widespread destruction during the civil war

Infant mortality rate

106.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

125.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (1992 est.)

210% (1989)

Inland waterways

1,815 km navigable

International disputes

the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1989 est.)

1,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Supreme Court (non-functioning)

Labor force

2.666 million (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, services 19%, industry and commerce 1% (1981) note: 50% of population of working age (1985)

2.2 million (very few are skilled laborers) by occupation: pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture, government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30% note: 53% of population of working age (1985)

Land boundaries

total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 7% other: 66%

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 14% other: 38%

Languages

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

unicameral People's Assembly

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 45.91 years male: 44.29 years female: 47.57 years (1994 est.)

total population: 54.75 years male: 54.49 years female: 55.01 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 17% male: 26% female: 9%

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14%

Location

Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger

Eastern Africa, bordering the northwestern Indian Ocean, south of the Arabian Peninsula

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 1,803,301; fit for military service 1,027,780

males age 15-49 1,630,864; fit for military service 915,368

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

none; landlocked

territorial sea: 200 nm

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Merchant marine

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,554 GRT/6,892 DWT, cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1

Names

conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic

National Assembly

elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (total 116) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1

National holiday

Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)

NA

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - 5.8 billion (1993 est.)

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.4 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$650 (1993 est.)

$500 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

-6.1% (1992 est.)

NA%

Nationality

noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian

noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali

Natural resources

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Net migration rate

-3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

landlocked

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

Other political or pressure groups

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

Overview

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with about 70% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population live as nomads and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. In consultation with international lending agencies, the government has adopted a structural adjustment program for 1992-95, aiming at GDP annual growth of 4.6%, inflation of no more than 2.5% on average, and a substantial reduction in the external current account deficit.

One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-93 has resulted in a substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.

People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)

elections last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the only party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically elected government will be established

Pipelines

crude oil 15 km

Political parties and leaders

Association for Democracy (Adema), Alpha Oumar KONARE; National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Balla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD)

the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre

Population

9,112,950 (July 1994 est.)

6,666,873 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.78% (1994 est.)

3.24% (1994 est.)

Ports

Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Bender Cassim (Boosaaso)

Railroads

642 km 1.000-meter gauge; linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes

Religions

Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%

Sunni Muslim

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

domestic system poor but improving; provides only minimal service with radio relay, wire, and radio communications stations; expansion of radio relay in progress; 11,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems (1993)

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Total fertility rate

7.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)

7.25 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

republic

none

Unemployment rate

NA%

NA%

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador William H. DAMERON III embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V., Bamako mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako telephone: [223] 225470

the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992