1985 Edition

Agriculture

largely dominated by coconut production with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas; self-sufficient in rice

mainly a pastoral country, raising livestock; crops — bananas, sugarcane, cotton, cereals

Aid

economic commitments from Western (non-US) countries, ODA (1979), $13.3 million

Airfields

25 total, 23 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways 1,2202,439 m

59 total, 47 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m, 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

executive authority in Governor General; unicameral legislature (38-member National Parliament)

President dominates political system; Cabinet carries out day-to-day government functions; unicameral legislature (National People's Assembly) exists but has little power

Somali National Army (including Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Force)

Budget

(1979) million revenues, $22.45 million; expenditures, $37.3 million

(1983 est.) revenues and grants, $278 million; current expenditures, $216 million; development expenditures and transfers, $143 million

Capital

Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal

Mogadishu

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

5 major transport aircraft

CNP

$110 million (1980), $460 per capita

Communists

probably some Communist sympathizers in the government hierarchy

Elections

every four years, latest October Political parties and leaders: United Party, Peter Kenilorea; People's Alliance Party, Solomon Mamaloni, National Democratic Party, Bartholemew Ulufa'alu

parliamentary elections held 31 December 1984

Electric power

15,000 kW capacity (1984); 30 million kWh produced (1984), 114 kWh per capita

47,000 kW capacity (1984); 62 million kWh produced (1984), 9 kWh per capita

Exports

$68.4 million (1981); copra, timber, fish *

$101 million (f.o.b., 1983); livestock, hides, skins, bananas

External debt

$1.2 billion (1983 est.); external debt service 17% of exports of goods and services

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

$1.875 million (1982 est), $375 per capita

Government leader

Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre, President (since October 1969) Political party and leader: the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), created on 1 July 1976, is sole legal party; Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre is general secretary of the SRSP

Government leaders

Sir Baddeley DEVESI, Governor General (since July 1978); Sir Peter KENILOREA, Prime Minister (since November 1984)

Highways

834 km total; 241 km sealed or allweather

17,215 km total; 2,335 km bituminous surface, 2,880 km gravel, and 12,000 km improved earth or stabilized soil

Imports

$72.2 million (1981); energy fuels

$407 million (c.i.f.., 1983); textiles, cereals, transport equipment, machinery, construction materials and equipment, petroleum products; also military materiel in

Inland waterways

none

Labor force

20,631 economically active (1980); 30% forestry and fishing, 28.2% social services, 10.8% manufacturing, 9.6% commerce, 7.7% construction, 7.1% transportation and communications Government

Legal system

a High Court plus Magistrates Courts; also a system of native courts throughout the islands

Major industries

a few small industries, including sugar refining, tuna beef canning, textiles, iron rod plant, and petroleum refining

Major trade partners

exports — Japan 37%, UK 11%, Australia 3%; impotts— Australia 31%, Singapore 16%, Japan 15%, UK 9% (1981)

exports — Saudi Arabia 84%, Italy 6% (1981); imports— UK 29%, Italy 21%, FRG 13% (1981)

Member of

ADB, Commonwealth, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, UN, UPU Economy

AfDB, Arab League, EAMA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Economy

Military manpower

males 15-49, 1,483,000; 801,000 fit for military service; no conscription

Monetary conversion rate

1.222 Australian dollars=US$l (February 1984) Communications

26.0 Somali shillings=US$l (September 1984)

National holiday

21 October

Official name

Solomon Islands

Somali Democratic Republic

Organized labor

General Federation of Somali Trade Unions, a government-controlled organization, established in 1977 Government

Pipelines

15 km crude oil

Political subdivisions

4 administrative districts

16 regions, 60 districts

Ports

5 minor (including Honiara, Gizo, Yandina)

3 major (Mogadishu, Berbera, Kisimayo)

Railroad

none

Railroads

none

Suffrage

universal adult at age 21

Telecommunications

4 AM, no FM, no TV stations; 2,000 telephones, no TV sets; one ground satellite station 350km Gull ol Aden

poor telephone and telegraph service; radio-relay system centered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000 telephones (0.2 per 100 popl.); 1 Indian Ocean satellite station; 2 AM, no FM stations, 1 TV station Defense Forces

Type

independent parliamentary state within Commonwealth

republic