Somalia Today
Climate Changes and Famine
Somalia has many issues today. In an article written in early 2013 by the Washington Post, "Research suggests climate change played role in Somalia’s 2011 famine, along with La Nina". More than 50,000 people died in 2011 due to global warming and low rain amount according to the research of British climate scientists. Scientists also believe that La Nina, a drought causing weather pattern in the eastern Pacific Ocean, had a significant role in causing deaths. No rain in a season results in a drought. If there is no rain, the few crops that grow in Somalia will not be able to grow. The Somalis do not import a lot of food, so they must rely on the crops. If crops do not grow, the people go hungry. Once people go hungry, they will starve and die.
Human Rights
In addition, the human rights in Somalia are awful. There is no security and protection in the terrible transitional government that Somalia has. People die in the streets everyday due to the armed conflicts. Somalia is also undergoing a 22 yearlong civil war that began in 1991. There is an Islamic radical group similar to and affiliated with the infamous Al-Qaeda group called Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab is fighting the government in a struggle for power. They are looking to gain control of northern Somalia, which is looking to become its own country. On March 18th, a suicide bomber driving a car in Mogadishu killed 10 known people. According to the Washington Post, Al Shabaab took the blame for the attack. The full story can be read here http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/car-bomb-in-somalia-capital-kills-10/2013/03/18/ea2fa8c6-8fd0-11e2-9173-7f87cda73b49_story.html . The police system in Somalia is very corrupt, and the results of being arrested in Somalia can be horrifc and brutal. Other problems are the many restrictions of common things such as freedom of speech and press. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has shut down many television and radio stations, but has allowed them to rebroadcast. There are very strict gun laws in Somalia. Women's rights are even more atrocious. Women are raped constantly every day. There are pretty much no laws to prevent it. Asha Haji Elmi is a women's right activist who has managed to get the TFG to require 12% of the Parliamentary seats to be held by women. Unfortunately, only around 8% are actually filled by women, which shows the struggle for equal rights in Somalia. Child abuse and trafficking is another big issue in Somalia. Children are sometimes forced to join armies and youth groups mostly against their will. Minority groups are also persecuted in Somalia. Many times they are forced into labor. Their education and health rights have also been restricted due to the lack of government support.
Lasting Affects of Imperialism
Imperialism still effects Somalia today. In an online article written in February 2013, Britain announced that they are basically teaming up with Libya and sending in armed forces to get, "a better foothold in north Africa and the Horn of Africa over the next 20 years." (from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/07/britain-military-co-operation-libya) Also, they are creating a new embassy in the capital city of Mogadishu.
Economy
Somalia ranks around 157th in the world in wealth (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). They are very poor but surpringsly do not have a weak economy. There are very few roads, and no railroads. However, there is an airport, so for all of you considering a vacation in Somalia, you can fly right in. The economy is based mainly on agriculture, which accounts for 40% of their GDP (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). It also relies on remittance money and telecommunications. Somalia uses the monetary system of the Somali Shilling. Somalia exports items like animal hides, livestock, and bananas to places like the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Yemen and Oman, who are their main trading partners. Imports include corn, sugar, sorghum, manufactured and petroleum products from Djibouti, India, Kenya and other countries. Surprisingly, the airline and tourism industries are growing in Somalia.
Government
The TFG (Transitional Federal Government) was just lifted recently in August 2012, meaning Somalia has what is called a Federal Government. This is Somalia's first central government since their civil war. Somalia's leaders include presidents and prime ministers. The current president is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (elected in 2012) and the current prime minister is Abdi Farah Shirdon (elected in 2012). The current Speaker of the Federal Parliamentary of Somalia is Mohamed Osman Jawari. There are over 15 different political parties in Somalia. There is an executive branch and a parliament that acts as the legislative branch. The cabinet, also known as the Council of Ministers, reports to the president through the prime minister, who selects the cabinet. There is also a judiciary branch that is pretty straightforward. The parliament has the power to elect the president and prime minister. There are 275 lower house seats and 54 upper house seats. Somalia has a suffering healthcare system due to the undeveloped government. Primary school enrollment has significantly increased over the last couple of years, however the literacy rate is only 37.8% (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). The government meets in the city of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.
Somalia has many issues today. In an article written in early 2013 by the Washington Post, "Research suggests climate change played role in Somalia’s 2011 famine, along with La Nina". More than 50,000 people died in 2011 due to global warming and low rain amount according to the research of British climate scientists. Scientists also believe that La Nina, a drought causing weather pattern in the eastern Pacific Ocean, had a significant role in causing deaths. No rain in a season results in a drought. If there is no rain, the few crops that grow in Somalia will not be able to grow. The Somalis do not import a lot of food, so they must rely on the crops. If crops do not grow, the people go hungry. Once people go hungry, they will starve and die.
Human Rights
In addition, the human rights in Somalia are awful. There is no security and protection in the terrible transitional government that Somalia has. People die in the streets everyday due to the armed conflicts. Somalia is also undergoing a 22 yearlong civil war that began in 1991. There is an Islamic radical group similar to and affiliated with the infamous Al-Qaeda group called Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab is fighting the government in a struggle for power. They are looking to gain control of northern Somalia, which is looking to become its own country. On March 18th, a suicide bomber driving a car in Mogadishu killed 10 known people. According to the Washington Post, Al Shabaab took the blame for the attack. The full story can be read here http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/car-bomb-in-somalia-capital-kills-10/2013/03/18/ea2fa8c6-8fd0-11e2-9173-7f87cda73b49_story.html . The police system in Somalia is very corrupt, and the results of being arrested in Somalia can be horrifc and brutal. Other problems are the many restrictions of common things such as freedom of speech and press. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has shut down many television and radio stations, but has allowed them to rebroadcast. There are very strict gun laws in Somalia. Women's rights are even more atrocious. Women are raped constantly every day. There are pretty much no laws to prevent it. Asha Haji Elmi is a women's right activist who has managed to get the TFG to require 12% of the Parliamentary seats to be held by women. Unfortunately, only around 8% are actually filled by women, which shows the struggle for equal rights in Somalia. Child abuse and trafficking is another big issue in Somalia. Children are sometimes forced to join armies and youth groups mostly against their will. Minority groups are also persecuted in Somalia. Many times they are forced into labor. Their education and health rights have also been restricted due to the lack of government support.
Lasting Affects of Imperialism
Imperialism still effects Somalia today. In an online article written in February 2013, Britain announced that they are basically teaming up with Libya and sending in armed forces to get, "a better foothold in north Africa and the Horn of Africa over the next 20 years." (from http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/07/britain-military-co-operation-libya) Also, they are creating a new embassy in the capital city of Mogadishu.
Economy
Somalia ranks around 157th in the world in wealth (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). They are very poor but surpringsly do not have a weak economy. There are very few roads, and no railroads. However, there is an airport, so for all of you considering a vacation in Somalia, you can fly right in. The economy is based mainly on agriculture, which accounts for 40% of their GDP (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). It also relies on remittance money and telecommunications. Somalia uses the monetary system of the Somali Shilling. Somalia exports items like animal hides, livestock, and bananas to places like the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Yemen and Oman, who are their main trading partners. Imports include corn, sugar, sorghum, manufactured and petroleum products from Djibouti, India, Kenya and other countries. Surprisingly, the airline and tourism industries are growing in Somalia.
Government
The TFG (Transitional Federal Government) was just lifted recently in August 2012, meaning Somalia has what is called a Federal Government. This is Somalia's first central government since their civil war. Somalia's leaders include presidents and prime ministers. The current president is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (elected in 2012) and the current prime minister is Abdi Farah Shirdon (elected in 2012). The current Speaker of the Federal Parliamentary of Somalia is Mohamed Osman Jawari. There are over 15 different political parties in Somalia. There is an executive branch and a parliament that acts as the legislative branch. The cabinet, also known as the Council of Ministers, reports to the president through the prime minister, who selects the cabinet. There is also a judiciary branch that is pretty straightforward. The parliament has the power to elect the president and prime minister. There are 275 lower house seats and 54 upper house seats. Somalia has a suffering healthcare system due to the undeveloped government. Primary school enrollment has significantly increased over the last couple of years, however the literacy rate is only 37.8% (from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/). The government meets in the city of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.