Created in 1960 from a former British protectorate and an Italian colony, Somalia collapsed into anarchy following the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991.
As rival warlords tore the rustic aside into extended family-based totally fiefdoms, an across the world-subsidized cohesion govt shaped in 2000 struggled to determine keep watch over, and the two fairly non violent northern regions of Somaliland and Puntland effectively broke away.
The seizure of the capital Mogadishu and much of the rustic’s south through a coalition of Islamist shariah courts in 2006 caused an intervention via Ethiopian, and later, African Union, forces.
Since 2012, whilst a brand new internationally-sponsored executive was put in, Somalia has been inching in opposition to balance, but the new authorities still face a challenge from Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabab insurgents.
See more us of a profiles – Profiles compiled through BBC Tracking
DATA
Symbol copyright Getty Images
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also referred to as Farmajo, was once elected by MPs gathered below tight security in a hangar on the airport of the capital Mogadishu in February 2017.
The Dual US-Somali citizen served as high minister for eight months between 2010 and 2011 whilst he gained popularity via making sure common payment of army salaries and enforcing a biometric check in for safety personnel.
He has expressed readiness to talk to the Islamist al-Shabab militants.
MEDIA
Image copyright AFP Symbol caption TV is still a minor medium in Somalia
Somalia’s disintegration is reflected in its fragmented and partisan media, which operates in a antagonistic environment.
Journalists and media shops bitch about intimidation at the fingers of state security businesses. Then Again, professionally-run media outlets have emerged – specifically, FM radios without a explicit factional links.
the tv and press sectors are vulnerable and radio is the dominant medium. Family web get entry to is held again via negative infrastructure, but social media use is at the rise.
Read complete media profile
TIMELINE
Image copyright AFP Image caption more than one million folks lost their houses as a result of the civil conflict
7th-nineteenth centuries – From the 7th-century arrival of Islam onwards, up to date-day Somalia is dominated by means of a chain of now and then competing sultanates.
nineteenth century – Ecu colonial powers gradually make inroads into Somalia’s rival neighborhood states, with the bulk of the area coming underneath Italian rule and the British establishing regulate of the northwest.
1960 – Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland transform unbiased, merge and form the United Republic of Somalia.
1969 – Mohamed Siad Barre assumes power in coup after the assassination of the elected president; he goes directly to claim Somalia a socialist state and nationalises so much of the economy.
1991 – The ousting of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 sparks a many years-long civil warfare between rival extended family warlords and the disintegration of relevant authority. Former British Somaliland broadcasts unilateral independence.
1990s– US-spearheaded UN peacekeeping venture fails to revive peace. Northern Puntland area broadcasts autonomy in 1998.
2005-2012 Pirates – principally operating out of Puntland – pose a huge threat to transport off the Somali coast, prior to falling away as a threat as a results of a world naval operation.
2006 – Militias dependable to the Islamist Union of Islamic Courts seize Mogadishu and different portions of south after defeating clan warlords, prior to being driven out via Ethiopian forces.
2007-11 – An African Union peacekeeping pressure, Amisom, begins to installation and Ethiopian troops withdraw in 2009. Al-Shabab – a jihadist breakaway from the Islamic Courts – develop into southern and valuable Somalia, prompting an armed intervention by means of Kenya.
2012 – Efforts to restore a significant authority given that 2000 after all make considerable progress, with the swearing in of the first formal parliament in additional than 20 years, and the retaining of the first presidential election considering the fact that 1967. Professional-govt forces make key advances towards Al-Shabab militants.
Read complete timeline 
Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption The scars of civil struggle are visual in Mogadishu’s historic port town
