|
Africa Equatorial Department
DFID, 1 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5HE
Tel: 020 7023 0411 | Fax: 020 7023 0826
Email: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk
Map courtesy of the FCO
|
Somalia
Overview
Somalia occupies an important geopolitical position between sub-Saharan
Africa and the countries of Arabia. Somalia, an almost totally Muslim country,
has an estimated population of 7.7 million (population figures developed by the
current Minister of Planning). Since 1991, regional and internal conflict and
humanitarian crises have plagued Somalia. Somalia has not had an effective
central government for over fifteen years.
There are no recent official figures
for human development indicators. Somalia was ranked 161 out of 163 countries in
2001 on the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP's) Human Development
Index, and Somalia is considered a low-income country with an estimated 45% of
the population living on less than $1 a day. There are high levels of disease
and hunger and poor social and economic indicators (on life expectancy, literacy
and access to clean water).
Political and Economic overview
A peace conference
held in Kenya to reconcile the warring factions in Somalia ended in 2004 and
produced a Transitional Federal Charter. Following the signing of the Charter a
Transitional Federal Parliament was selected and a President elected. In January
2005
 Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed. The TFG returned to
Somalia in August 2005 to a temporary seat of government in Baidoa, 150 miles
north west of Mogadishu, the capital. The Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP)
met for the first time inside Somalia for the first time in fifteen years in
February 2006.
However, the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) do not have
effective control over the whole of Somalia.
- Somaliland, in the north west of
the country, claimed independence from Somalia in 1994, but is not
internationally recognised as a separate state.
- Puntland (in north east
Somalia) sees itself as part of the Democratic Republic of Somalia, but has its
own governing institutions. It also continues to be in dispute with Somaliland
over territory on the common “border”.
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) emerged during 2006 as a strong
political/military force across many areas of the south and central zone,
especially in Mogadishu. The UIC, demanding an Islamic state under Sharia law,
fought and defeated the warlords who had previously controlled strategic towns.
However, in December 2006, a combined force of Ethiopian and TFG troops reclaimed
control of the south including Mogadishu. Whilst the UN Arms Embargo officially
remains in place, the UN Security Council has authorised a Regional African-led
Peace Support Mission for Somalia (excluding front line states such as
Ethiopia). The swift deployment of this force and the withdrawal of Ethiopian
troops is intended to stabilise the situation. Approximately 1,500 Ugandan
peacekeepers have now arrived in Somalia under the African Union’s “AMISOM”, but
the TFG continue to face resistance from a small group of Islamic extremists and
need to rapidly establish their credentials with the Somali people as the only
effective means of renewing basic institutions in order to bring the country to
democratic elections.
Somalia has a relatively vibrant economy based on livestock and trade,
including telecommunications, and this has kept the country afloat during the
long years of insecurity. The Somali community abroad is estimated to remit up
to US$1 billion per year, and, as well as traditional donors, Muslim agencies
provide substantial support to the social sectors.
If political stabilisation
can be reached, Somalia has an opportunity to rebuild the state; achieve peace
and security; achieve democratic governance and the re-establishment of the rule of law; begin
recovery, reconstruction and development to start to make steady progress
towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and advance sustainable
socio-economic development.
Progress against Millennium Development Goals
There
are no recent official figures for Somalia and so it is impossible to forecast
if Somalia will meet the MDGs by 2015, although the general consensus is that it
will not. Only about 20% of primary age children attend school and the education
and health care that exists is provided privately, by NGOs (non-governmental
organisations) or by communities, often with support from the Somali community
worldwide. UNICEF currently estimates that over 15% of Somali children die
before the age of five, which is one of the worst indicators in the world. From recent
surveys, the UN reports that 425,000 people are currently in a state of
humanitarian emergency, compared to 900,000 at the beginning of 2006. This
improvement is largely due to better rains since the beginning of 2006.
DFID activity in Somalia
There is no national plan for poverty reduction in
Somalia; but a Reconstruction and Development Framework (RDF) is being prepared
following a UNDP/World Bank-led
joint needs assessment (JNA) with Somali authorities and civil
society.
The main goal of The DFID Country Engagement Plan for Somalia (52 kb) is 'a
peaceful, politically stable, and economically viable Somalia leading to a
sustainable reduction in poverty levels'. In order to reach this goal we are
helping achieve a just and viable political settlement in Somalia; working with
others to establish the basis for effective development assistance; focusing on
improving governance and service delivery; and ensuring the adequate and timely
provision of basic services through our humanitarian support. DFID does not have
a presence in Somalia but works with national (NGOs) and international
bodies, such as the United Nations (UN) and World Bank. The Somalia programme
team is split between our offices in London and Nairobi. DFID with the EC and
other EU member states of Norway is developing an EU/Norway Country Strategy
which will be the basis for medium term support via a World Bank/UNDP led
Recovery Development Plan.
Read more about DFID's activity in Somalia
Links
Somalia receives support from
various countries and organisations, including:
The World Bank/UNDP:
Country
Re-engagement Note (due to be renewed shortly).
The
Somali Support Secretariat (SSS) is an independent body that
helps coordinate all partners’ (e.g. donors, UN agencies and NGOs) assistance to
Somalia.
Further information
Last updated: 24 April 2007
 Back to top
| 
