Bari and Nugaal 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 towards reconstructing
legitimate, representative government. Puntland also claims Sool and
eastern Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort
(primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but
when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties,
order still had not been restored. A Transitional National Government
(TNG) was created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti which was attended
by a broad representation of Somali clans. The TNG has a three-year
mandate to create a permanent national Somali government. The TNG does
not recognize Somaliland as an independent republic but so far has
been unable to reunite either Somaliland or Puntland with the unstable
regions in the south. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting
for control of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. Suspicion of
Somali links with global terrorism complicate the picture.

Geography Somalia

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 637,657 sq km water: 10,320 sq km land: 627,337 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: total: 2,340 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km,
Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline: 3,025 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 NM

Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon,
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October -
southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular
rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:
Shimbiris 2,416 m

Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore,
tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% other: 98% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 2,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern
plains in summer; floods during rainy season

Environment - current issues: famine; use of contaminated water