Country Profile - Somalia

General Information

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

Population: 8,778,000 (UN estimate 2000).

Population Density: 13.8 per sq km.

Capital: Mogadishu. Population: 1,219,000 (UN projection 2000).

GEOGRAPHY: Somalia is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Aden, to the south and west by Kenya, to the west by Ethiopia and to the northwest by Djibouti. To the east lies the Indian Ocean. Somalia is an arid country and the scenery includes mountains in the north, the flat semi-desert plains in the interior and the subtropical region in the south. Separated from the sea by a narrow coastal plain, the mountains slope south and west to the central, almost waterless plateau which makes up most of the country. The beaches are protected by a coral reef that runs from Mogadishu to the Kenyan border in the south. They are among the longest in the world. There are only two rivers, the Jubba and the Shabeelle, and both rise in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Along their banks is most of the country’s agricultural land. The Somali population is concentrated in the coastal towns, in the wetter, northern areas and in the south near the two rivers. A large nomadic population is scattered over the interior, although drought in recent years has led to many settling as farmers or fishermen in newly formed communities.

Government: Somalia gained independence from the UK and Italy in 1960. At the Arta Peace Conference in August 2000, an interim parliament was established. Executive President: Abdiqasim Salad Hasan since 2000. Prime Minister: Hassan Abshir Farah since 2001. The northern part of the country declared itself independent as the Republic of Somaliland with Dahir Riyale Kahin as acting president since 2002.

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.

Time: GMT + 3.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

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

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network. Major operator is Barakaat Globetel Company.

Internet: Somalia’s North East Telecom Company (NETCO) (website: www.netcostg.com) is one of the country’s first ISPs. Others include SomaliNet (website: www.somalinet.com). Internet facilities for visitors are yet to be fully established.

Telegram: There are limited facilities in the capital, but the main post office in Mogadishu, opposite the Hotel Juba, offers services.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to 2 weeks.

Press: No English-language dailies are published.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes Yes Yes

Note: The Somali Embassy in London is closed at present owing to civil war in Somalia. Contact the Foreign Office (website: www.fco.gov.uk) for any information regarding entry into Somalia.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Types of visa: Tourist, Business and Transit.

Validity: Dependent on nationality.

Application to: Contact the Somali Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (tel: (1) 635 921/2; fax: (1) 627 847). The British Embassy in Ethiopia can also help with up-to-date information concerning travel to Somalia, available consular services, visa application requirements, visa costs and temporary residence.

Note: Upon arrival, all visitors - except those under 18 years of age - must exchange US$100 or equivalent into local currency. Please note that the exact amount to be exchanged may vary according to region.

Money

Currency: Somali Shilling (SoSh) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SoSh500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of SoSh1, and 50, 10 and 5 cents.

Currency exchange: US Dollar bills are the easiest currency to exchange; hotels are the easiest and safest places. Avoid money changers in crowded areas.
Credit & debit cards: Diners Club has limited acceptability. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.

Travellers cheques: US travellers cheques are preferred but generally not recommended.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Somali Shilling against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 4179.49 4446.01 4769.06 4679.58
$1.00= 2620.00 2620.00 2620.00 2620.00

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to SoSh200. The import of foreign currency is unlimited provided declared on arrival and exchanged at the national banks within 5 days after arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. All foreign exchange transactions should be recorded on the official currency form which may be required prior to departure from Somalia.

Banking hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1130.

Duty Free

Duty-Free: The following goods may be imported into Somalia without incurring customs duty:

400 cigarettes or 40 cigars or 400g of tobacco; 1 bottle of wine or spirits; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 2 Ashoura. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Jun 26 Independence Day. Jul 1 Foundation of the Republic. Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 21 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 19 Ashoura. Apr 21 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). May 1 Labour Day. Jun 26 Independence Day. Jul 1 Foundation of the Republic. Nov 3-5 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).

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 2 to 10 days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera 2 No
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving within 6 days from infected areas. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Somalia. However, at the beginning of 2000, an outbreak of cholera was reported, and precautions are recommended for those likely to be at risk. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix.

3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilisation is considered essential. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A and E are widespread; hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Meningococcal meningitis may occur.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, see the Health appendix.

Health care: Medical facilities are very limited and visitors are advised to take their own medicines with them. Health insurance is essential. Medical treatment at government-run hospitals and dispensaries is free for Somalians and may sometimes be free for visitors.

Travel – International

Note: All travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, is not advised because of the dangerous level of criminal activity. There is a high threat from terrorism in Somalia. Strong security precautions should be undertaken by all, especially nationals whose countries have no representation in Somalia, such as the UK.

AIR: The national airline is Somali Airlines.

Approximate flight times: From Mogadishu to London is 15 hours, flying first to Dubai and then on to London with a stopover in Djibouti.

International airports: Mogadishu (MGQ) is 6km (4 miles) west of the city. There is a taxi service to the city centre.

Departure tax: The equivalent of US$20. Transit passengers and children under 2 years are exempt.

SEA: The principal ports are Berbera, Kismayu, Marka and Mogadishu.
ROAD: There are routes to Somalia from Djibouti and Kenya. There is no border crossing with Ethiopia at present. Roads are underdeveloped, and travel requires suitable 4-wheel-drive desert vehicles.

Travel – Internal

Note: Due to continued civil unrest, travel within Somalia is highly dangerous, except in Hargeisa.

AIR: Somali Airlines run regular services to all major towns.

SEA: Modern Somalia is essentially a broad strip of coastal desert. Roads are poor and consequently coastal shipping is an important form of transport, both socially and economically.

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. It is difficult to travel outside Mogadishu by car. Existing roads run from the capital to Burao and Baidoa and there are sealed roads between Kismayu and Mogadishu, and Hargeysa and Mogadishu. Passenger transport is restricted almost entirely to road haulage. There are few cars and buses although there are reasonable bus services between the major centres in the south. Taxi: These are available in large towns. Car hire: Available in Mogadishu. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

URBAN: Minibuses and shared taxi-type services run in Mogadishu, but availability may be restricted outside normal working hours (Sat-Thurs 0700-1400).

Accommodation

HOTELS: In the main cities of Hargeysa and Mogadishu, there are international standard hotels. There are also hotels in Afgoi, Berbera, Borama, Burao, Kismayu and Marka.

REST HOUSES: Government-run rest houses are located in many places with dormitory accommodation for 4 to 10 people.

LODGES: There are tourist and hunting lodges in national parks at Lac Badana and Bush-Bush as well as in other areas.

Social Profile

Food & Drink: In peacetime, restaurants in the major cities serve Chinese, European, Italian and Somali food. Local food includes lobster, prawn, squid, crab, fresh tuna, Somali bananas, mangoes and papaya. A traditional Somali meal is roast kid and spiced rice.

Nightlife: Local bands playing African and European music perform at nightclubs. There are frequent traditional feasts with ritualistic and recreational dance, music and folk songs.

Shopping: Traditional crafts include gold, silver jewellery, woven cloth and baskets from the Benadir region, meerschaum and woodcarvings. Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1230 and 1630-1900.

Social Conventions: Traditional dance, music, song and craftsmanship flourish despite gradual modern development. Informal wear is acceptable and there is no objection to bikinis on the beach. Visitors should respect local customs. Tipping: 10 to 15 per cent is normal in hotels and restaurants.

Business Profile

Economy: Somalia’s economy has been seriously dislocated by years of fighting and political strife, as well as a severe long-term drought which has affected the whole of East Africa. Somalia now ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Subsistence agriculture and livestock rearing occupy most of the working population, although development is hampered by primitive techniques, poor soil and climatic conditions, and a chronic labour shortage. Bananas are the main cash crop and provide nearly half the country’s export earnings; cotton, maize, sorghum and other crops are produced for domestic consumption. Animal products, particularly hides and skins, are another key source of revenue, mainly from Saudi Arabia. Fishing has dwindled to the level of individual small boats, but there are provisional plans to restore this to full commercial capacity. Oil and gas deposits have been located but their exploitation has been in abeyance due to the lack of an effective central government. There is little industry other than small-scale operations to meet domestic needs, mainly food-processing and oil refining.

Most economic assets remain in the unstable hands of clan-based militias, with frequent competition for control of particular industries.

Over half the population relies on remittances from abroad as well as large injections of foreign aid, especially from the various United Nations relief organisations. These were disrupted by the closure in 2002 – at the behest of the US government, which claimed links to terrorism – of the al-Barakat finance company which processed a large number of overseas payments; the company also had major interests in other parts of the economy, especially banking and telecommunications. Somalia is burdened by a huge foreign debt and its traditional trade relationships have largely been suspended due to payment problems.

Business: Wear lightweight suits or safari-style jackets without a tie in hot weather. The best time to visit is October to May. Office hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1400.

Commercial Information: The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Mogadishu is presently closed due to continued civil unrest.

Climate

Climate: The Jilal starts around January and is the harshest period, hot and very dry. Gu is the first rainy season lasting from March to June. Hagaa, during August, is a time of dry monsoon winds and dust clouds. The second rainy season is from September to December and is called Dayr.

Required clothing: Lightweights and rainwear.