ed: 33 km
unpaved: 1,327 km
note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor

Military
Solomon Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 141,051 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 116,891 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,924
female: 6,679 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

3% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Solomon Islands

Disputes - international:

since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands
(RAMSI), consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn
from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining
civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and
security

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Somalia

Introduction
Somalia

Background:

Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 to allow its
protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation
of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in
an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a degree of
stability in the country for a couple of decades. After the regime's
collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional
fighting, and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an
independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the
administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag,
and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has
maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a
constitutional democracy, including holding municipal,
parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari,
Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared
autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since
1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides
toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but
has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with
Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern S