Somalia Country & Tourist Information

Location
East Africa.

Area
637,657 sq km (246,201 sq miles).

Population
9.5 million (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
14.9 per sq km.

Capital
Mogadishu.
Population: 1.2 million (UN estimate 2000, including suburbs).

Government
Somalia gained independence from the UK and Italy in 1960. At the Arta Peace Conference in August 2000, an interim Parliament was established.  
The northern part of the country declared itself independent as the Republic of Somaliland with Dahir Riyale Kahin as acting President since 2002, although it has achieved little international recognition.

Language
Somali and Arabic are the official languages. Swahili is spoken, particularly in the south. English and Italian are also widely spoken.

Religion
The state religion is Islam and the majority of Somalis are Sunni Muslims. There is a small Christian community, mostly Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister: Ali Mohamed Ghedi since 2004.

Head of State
Executive President: Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed since 2004.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 252. Outgoing international calls must be made via the operator.

Mobile Telephone
GSM 900 network. Operators are Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc, Nationlink (website: www.nationlinks.net) and Telesom (website: www.telesom.net).

Internet
Somalia’s SomaliNet (website: www.somalinet.com) is one of the country’s first ISPs. Internet facilities for visitors are yet to be fully established.

Media
Somalia’s disintegration has been reflected in its media. Broadcasters and journalists operate in a dangerous environment and many Somalis rely on foreign broadcasts for their news.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks.

Press
Qaran, Xog-Ogaal and Ayaamaha are Mogadishu based. Somaliland Times – Hargeisa is an English-language weekly publication.

Radio
Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic of Somalia is a FM station operated by the transitional Government. Radio HornAfrik is a widely-listened-to private FM station in Mogadishu, which rebroadcasts BBC programs.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
29 Jan Ashoura.
31 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
1 May Labor Day.
26 Jun Independence Day.
1 Jul Foundation of the Republic. 
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 
20 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
19 Jan Ashoura. 
20 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
1 May Labor Day.
26 Jun Independence Day.
1 Jul Foundation of the Republic.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

United Nations Development Program for Somalia (UNDP)
Street address: Springette off lower Kabete Road, Spring Valley, Nairobi, Kenya
Postal address: PO Box 28832, Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: (20) 418 3640/2.
Website: www.so.undp.org

European Commission Somalia Unit (ECSU)
Street address: Union Building, Ragati Road, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Postal address: PO Box 30475 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (020) 271 2830 or 3250 or 3251.
Website: www.delken.cec.eu.int 


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