Name:

Puntland State of Somalia

Area:

about 180,000 km²

Population:

2.5 million (1995 estimation)

Capital:

Garowe (pop. 22,000)

Geography

Location:

north-eastern Somalia, at the Horn of Africa, East Africa

Landscape:

plateaus and hills

Climate:

principally desert; December to February monsoon

Neighbors:

Ethiopia in the south-west, Somaliland (broken away from Somalia) in the west, rest of Somalia in the south, Golf of Aden in the north, Indian Ocean in the east

Time Zone:

CET+2 = GMT+3 = ET+8 = PT+11

Population

Ethnic Groups:

almost exclusively Somalis

Language:

Somali

History:

1960 unification of the former colonies British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland to the country of Somalia, 1991 Somali government ousted, independence of Puntland declared, 2000 Somali transitional national government not recognized, but efforts to join a Somalia with a working government

Politics

Status:

self-proclaimed state of Somalia with "temporary independence"

Head of State:

self-made "President" Colonel Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed

Opposition Candidate:

ousted president Jama Ali Jama

Background

Somalia since 1991:

A Siad Barre regime was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy followed for nine years. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland which 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, aided by the overwhelming dominance of the ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal comprise a neighboring self-declared Republic of Puntland, which has also made strides towards reconstructing legitimate, representative government. 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 October 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 or Puntland as independent republics but so far has been unable to reunite them with the unstable regions in the south; numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of Mogadishu and the other southern regions. 

News of 04/02/2002:

Southwestern Somalia is the third region to break with Mogadishu after the collapse of central government there in 1991. First were north-western Somaliland (claiming permanent independence based on its earlier history as an independent state) and northeaster Puntland, which does not accept the TNG government and has gone temporarily independent. Southwestern Somalia status is parallel to Puntland's. A spokesman of the new state told the UN the RRA [Rahanwein Resistance Army] would still participate in the Nairobi regional summit on Somali reconciliation, but "as the autonomous Southwestern State of Somalia." Somaliland does not participate.

 

Economy

General:

mostly pastoral nomadisms

Currency:

Somali Shilling

Gross Domestic Product:

about $4.3 billion, per capita $600 (values for Somalia as a whole)