o be held NA); results - SRSP was the only
party; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United Somali
Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27
January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democratically
elected government will be established
Executive branch:
president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga); non-functioning
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (non-functioning)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Interim President ALI MAHDI Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)

*Somalia, Government

Head of Government:
Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 342-1575
consulate general:
New York
note:
Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991
US diplomatic representation:
the US Embassy in Mogadishu was evacuated and closed indefinitely in January
1991; United States Liaison Office (USLO) opened in December 1992
Flag:
light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based
on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)

*Somalia, Economy

Overview:
One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few
resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil
war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for
about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads who
are dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods make up more than half of
the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about
20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and
corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based
on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of
GDP. Greatly increased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a
substantial drop in output, with widespread famine.
National produc