Portal:Somalia

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Camels on sale at Baidoa livestock market in Somalia on November 7, 2019

Flag of Somalia	Coat of arms of Somalia

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Kenya to the southwest. Somalia has the longest coastline on the mainland of Africa, with a seaboard that stretches 3,025 kilometres (1,880 mi).

In antiquity, Somalia was an important centre for commerce with the rest of the ancient world, it is among the most probable locations of the fabled ancient Land of Punt. During the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade, including the Ajuuraan Sultanate, the Adal Sultanate and the Geledi Sultanate. In the late nineteenth century, through a succession of treaties with these kingdoms, the British and Italians gained control of parts of the coast, and established British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. In the interior, the Dervish State wherein Muhammad Abdullah Hassan was leader successfully repulsed the British Empire four times and forced it to retreat to the coastal region. Italian occupation lasted until 1941, yielding to British military administration. British Somaliland would remain a protectorate, while Italian Somaliland in 1949 became a United Nations Trusteeship under Italian administration, the Trust Territory of Somaliland.

Though, in 1960, the two regions united to form the independent Somali Republic under a civilian government. In 1991, following the collapse of the government of Siad Barre, the Republic of Somaliland unilaterally declared its independence from Somalia, reinstating the borders of former British Somaliland, and has been governed by democratically elected leaders since. Somaliland's independence, however, has not been recognised by any foreign country or international organisation.

Somalia has a population of around 10 million. About 85% of local residents are ethnic Somalis, Somali and Arabic are the official languages of Somalia, both of which belong to the Afro-Asiatic family. Most people in the territory are Muslims, the majority being Sunni.

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Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali; Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022, having previously held the office from 2012 to 2017.

Hassan was previously a university professor and dean at SIMAD University, which he co-founded. During 2012 he was elected President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Time magazine placed him on an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. During 2014 he controversially welcomed the entry of Ethiopian troops into the African Union mission in the wake of the 2006 invasion. His first administration faced serious criticism for rampant corruption, media restrictions and abuse of power. (Full article...)

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Operation Eastern Exit was the codename given to the military evacuation of the United States embassy in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, in January 1991. In late December 1990, violence quickly enveloped the city as armed militants began clashing with government soldiers. On 1 January 1991, the US Ambassador to Somalia, James Keough Bishop, contacted the Department of State requesting an evacuation of the embassy, which was approved the following day. United States Central Command began planning and mobilizing forces that evening. The initial plan was to evacuate with a military transport plane through the Mogadishu International Airport, but this was later abandoned. A helicopter evacuation via the USS Guam and USS Trenton was the remaining option.

On the morning of 5 January, a 60-person Marine and Navy SEAL security detail was dispatched from Guam aboard two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters to secure the embassy and prepare for the main evacuation. The two helicopters returned to Guam with the first 61 evacuees. Throughout the day, foreign diplomats and civilians sought refuge at the embassy. Four waves of five CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters each evacuated the embassy compound shortly after midnight on 6 January. The evacuees were transported to Muscat, Oman, where they disembarked on 11 January. In total, Operation Eastern Exit evacuated 281 (with a 282nd born aboard ship) diplomats and civilians from 30 countries, including 12 heads of missions (eight ambassadors and four chargés d'affaires). (Full article...)

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Mogadishu Battle of Jilib Embassy of the United States, Mogadishu Cyclone Sagar Somalia at the 2000 Summer Olympics Somalia at the 2008 Summer Olympics Somalia at the 2012 Summer Olympics Somalia at the 2016 Summer Olympics Somalia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

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...that Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi, a Somali Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate, invaded Ethiopia and defeated several Ethiopian emperors, wreaking much damage on that kingdom?

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Image 1A view in the Kismayo/Dalxiiska area in 2016
Image 2A view of Bosaso
Image 3A camel peering over the leafier portions of Cal Madow, a mountain range in Somalia
Image 4The beachside at Merca, an ancient port city in the southern Lower Shebelle province of Somalia
Image 5Lamadaya are waterfalls located in the Cal Madow mountain range in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia
Image 6A view of the Port of Mogadishu
Image 7Mashmash, a Somali pancake and part of Somali cuisine
Image 8Hargeisa and much of northwestern Somalia is desert or hilly terrain. Here, the thelarchic-shaped Naasa Hablood hills are shown.
Image 9A satellite image of Somalia, 2004
Image 10A Dhulbahante garesa (dervish fort) in Taleh
Image 11A view of Banderadley Somalia
Image 12The Jubba river near Jamaame
Image 13A man carries a huge hammerhead shark through the streets of Mogadishu

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See Wiki Loves Africa in Somalia at Wikimedia Commons for more Somalia images.

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The following are images from various Somalia-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Engraving of the 13th century Fakr ad-Din Mosque built by Fakr ad-Din, the first Sultan of the Sultanate of Mogadishu. (from History of Somalia)
Image 2Somalia map of Köppen climate classification. (from Geography of Somalia)
Image 3Somali men and women in front of a traditional house (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 4Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council. (from History of Somalia)
Image 5Somali women basket weaving (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 6Fiat building in Mogadiscio, 1940 (from History of Somalia)
Image 7Mogadishan currency – The Sultanate of Mogadishu was an important monetary supporter of Adal. (from History of Somalia)
Image 8Mosque in Borama, Somaliland (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 9Topography of Somalia (from Geography of Somalia)
Image 10Somali Army soldiers during the operation Operation Indian Ocean, October 2014 (from History of Somalia)
Image 11Almnara Tower, Mogadishu. (from History of Somalia)
Image 12Merca is an ancient Islamic center in Somalia. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 13Foreign Minister of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar in a meeting with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and other diplomats at the UN headquarters in New York. (from History of Somalia)
Image 14An avenue in downtown Mogadishu in 1963. (from History of Somalia)
Image 15Dervish commander Haji Sudi on the left with his brother in-law Duale Idres. Aden, 1892. (from History of Somalia)
Image 16Bimaal clan elders and the Bimal Sultan on board Marco Polo discussing matters with Italian figures (from History of Somalia)
Image 17Somali woman in Hargeisa opening speech with traditional greeting. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 18Italian Somalia (from History of Somalia)
Image 19Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi's pioneering use of cannons figured prominently in his Conquest of Ethiopian territories. (from History of Somalia)
Image 20US Army helicopter shortly before Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. (from History of Somalia)
Image 21Dulbiciid in Godaalo, Xudun District, tallest Somalia mountain outside karkaar range (from Geography of Somalia)
Image 22A Somali woman showing a decorated pottery (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 23Flag of the Somali Youth League (SYL), the nation's first political party. (from History of Somalia)
Image 24Exhumed skeletal remains of victims of the Isaaq genocide (from History of Somalia)
Image 25The Osmanya writing script. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 26Downtown Mogadishu in 1936. Arch of Triumph Umberto to the left, Cathedral and Arba Rucun mosque to the centre-right. (from History of Somalia)
Image 27AMISOM reinforcement convoy on the Baidoa-Mogadishu road in April 2014 (from History of Somalia)
Image 28Former leader of the Somali Youth League Aden Abdullah Osman Daar who eventually became the first President of the Somali Republic following the union of State of Somaliland and Italian Trusteeship of Somalia. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 29Sheikh Ali Ayanle Samatar, a prominent Somali Islamic scholar. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 3019th century Martello fort in Berbera constructed by Haji Sharmarke Ali Saleh (from History of Somalia)
Image 31Map of Italian Somaliland in 1940, when was added the British Somaliland (after the previous addition of the Ogaden in 1936) (from History of Somalia)
Image 32Somali women in traditional dirac and shash (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 33Somali singer Fartuun Birimo wearing henna hand and arm designs. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 34Embassy of Somalia in Paris (from History of Somalia)
Image 35The Guardafui Channel, between the tip of Somalia and Socotra island. (from Geography of Somalia)
Image 36Somali woman building a Somali house (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 37Mogadiscio cathedral (from History of Somalia)
Image 38Mosque of Islamic Solidarity (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 39Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur Chairman of the Somali National Movement that overthrew Barre's regime in Northern Somalia (from History of Somalia)
Image 40Taleh was the capital of the Dervish movement. (from History of Somalia)
Image 41Italian stamp from Mogadiscio (from History of Somalia)
Image 42Barawa city was an important medieval centre of Somali enterprise. (from History of Somalia)
Image 43Governor's palace in Mogadiscio (from History of Somalia)
Image 44Somali language books on display. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 45Somali women performing a traditional dance (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 46Ruins of the Sultanate of Adal in Zeila, Somalia. (from History of Somalia)
Image 47Model of a medieval Mogadishan ship. (from History of Somalia)
Image 48Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, leader of the Dervish movement. (from History of Somalia)
Image 49Wa'daan warriors ambushed and killed the Italian explorer Antonio Cecchi and most of his troops at Lafoole, west of Mogadishu, 1896 (from History of Somalia)
Image 50In 1698, the Portuguese in Mombasa surrendered to a joint Somali-Ottoman force. (from History of Somalia)
Image 51The battle flag of Al-Shabaab, an Islamist group waging war against the federal government. (from History of Somalia)
Image 52Cinema Italia in Mogadiscio, 1937 (from History of Somalia)
Image 53The Silk Road extending from southern Europe through Arabia, Somalia, Egypt, Persia, India and Java until it reaches China. (from History of Somalia)
Image 54Somalis performing the folk dance called Dhaanto (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 55A traditional dabqaad incense burner. (from Culture of Somalia)
Image 56Neolithic rock art at the Laas Geel complex depicting a camel. (from History of Somalia)

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