Chapter 7 Somalia, What Will Save You

  The Federal Republic of Somalia is located on the Somali Peninsula in the easternmost part of the African continent, with an area of approximately 640,000 square kilometers and a population of 10.4 million (estimated figure, no way to conduct statistics). It borders the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, Kenya and Ethiopia to the west, and Djibouti to the northwest. Most areas have a tropical desert climate, while the southwest has a tropical grassland climate, with high temperatures and little rainfall throughout the year. The coastline is 3,200 kilometers long, with a very important strategic location, having been a strategic stronghold for major powers throughout history.

  The country is divided into two main clan systems: the Samaale and the Saab. The Samaale clan system consists of four major clans: Dir, Isaaq, Hawiye, and Darod. Most of them are nomads scattered throughout Somalia.

  The Sab tribe consists of the Digil and Rahanweyn tribes, with a small population living in the fertile areas between the Shebelle and Juba rivers in southern Somalia. They lead an agro-pastoral lifestyle. Apart from the two major clan groups of Somalis and Sab, there are also some smaller ethnic minority groups, mainly consisting of Somali Bantus and Swahili people. The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic, with English and Italian also widely spoken. Islam is the state religion of Somalia, belonging to the Sufi branch.

  Since the collapse of the Siad regime in 1991, Somalia has been in a state of anarchy with warlords and armed factions carving up the country. The various domestic factions have been fighting on and off, undergoing constant splits and mergers, gradually forming the four-way division of Somaliland, Puntland, Rahanweyn and Aideed's Mogadishu faction.

  The international community has mediated 12 times to resolve the issue, but all have been in vain. After the signing of the Transitional Charter, a turning point appeared in Somalia's poor political environment. However, despite the welcome given by the Somali people to the leaders of the Transitional Federal Government, due to the problem of factional conflicts, the transitional government has not yet been able to enter the capital Mogadishu and can only work in Jowhar and Baidoa. The local political and military factions' pattern of dominance has not changed substantially.

  There are currently three main forces in the country: the Transitional Government, the warlord alliance and the clan militia. Although most of Somalia is controlled by the Transitional Government established in October 2004, both the warlord alliance and the clan militia do not support this government. The capital Mogadishu has become a focal point for several factions vying for power, with violent incidents occurring frequently, forcing the Transitional Government to relocate its operations outside the capital. The complex web of interests between various clans makes it difficult to distinguish between them, leaving Somalia in a state of chaos among various political factions, and the weak Transitional Government is unable to control this war-torn country.

  According to the 2004 estimates, Somalia has a population of 10.4 million, with a growth rate of 2.2%. The overwhelming majority are ethnic Somalis. The country is divided into two major clan families: the Samaale and the Saab. The Samaale clan family accounts for more than 80% of the population, and is further divided into four main sub-clans: Darod, Hawiye, Isaaq, and Dir. The Saab clan family is divided into two main sub-clans: Digil and Rahanweyn. These six major clans are further divided into dozens of smaller sub-clans.

  However, these tribes have little to do with Li Ran now, because he is currently in the northeastern corner of Somalia, where there are the most pirates. To the north is the Gulf of Aden, a world-renowned place. Just over 300 kilometers from where he is, is one of the few major cities in Somalia - Bossaso.

  The majority of Somalis are concentrated around the cities, and Somalia has few major cities. Apart from tribal gathering places, there are very few small towns.

  The place where Li Lan is located can be considered the most marginal area of Bossaso, and even the edge cannot be seen. Except for those wealthy Somalis who own camel groups, few people will come to such a place. This is also the reason why Li Lan has not been discovered in several days after arriving here. If the place where Li Lan is located were China, it would be considered miraculous if she were not discovered, even with normal human movement, let alone being monitored by satellites all over the sky.

  Through these days of gradual understanding, Li Lan also had some basic knowledge of this country.

  The economy is mainly based on livestock, and it is one of the countries with the highest number of livestock per capita in the world. About 80% of the population lives from pastoralism and agro-pastoralism. The main livestock are sheep, cattle, and also camels, making Somalia the country with the most camels in the world. Mainly nomadic or semi-nomadic. Arable land is mainly concentrated in the southern regions of the Juba River and Shebelle River basins. Crops include bananas, sugarcane, cotton, sorghum, maize, etc. Special products are myrrh, frankincense, and Arabic gum. It is one of the world's largest producers of spices.

  Industry includes food, tobacco, leather, textiles, sugar, building materials and canned fish and meat. The exploitation of green onyx, gypsum and uranium mines is carried out, and the unexploited mineral deposits include iron, manganese, niobium, lead, zinc and tin. Livestock and its products account for more than 80% of total export value, bananas are the second largest export commodity, and also exports leather, beeswax, myrrh and fish products.

  Imported machinery, vehicles, grain, daily necessities, etc. There is only one railway in the country, which was built with Chinese aid in the 1970s. Land transportation mainly relies on highways.

  Somalia is one of the least developed countries in the world. The economy is mainly based on animal husbandry, and the industrial foundation is weak. In the early 1970s, due to overly radical nationalization policies and natural disasters, the economy faced severe difficulties. In the 1980s, with the support of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, economic policy adjustments were made, emphasizing the priority development of agriculture, gradually implementing economic liberalization, relaxing trade restrictions, encouraging foreign investment and private investment, canceling agricultural product price controls, devaluing the Somali shilling, auctioning dollars, tightening fiscal expenditures, and other measures, which led to a temporary improvement in the economy.

  After 1991, due to years of civil unrest, industrial and agricultural production and infrastructure were severely damaged, and the economy collapsed. Today's Somalia is basically without factories, and its former industries closed down during the turmoil. Even the only railway has been abandoned, and if it weren't for the proliferation of guns and a small number of cars, it would not be an exaggeration to say that society is in a feudal era.

  Somalia is one of the countries with very rich fishery resources in the world, and it is estimated that the annual catch can reach 250,000 tons. However, due to the backward fishing methods and limited market sales, the actual annual catch is only around 20,000 tons. Due to the lack of a strong central government in Somalia, foreign fishing vessels have been engaging in serious illegal fishing activities in Somali waters. Some factions in Somalia also sell fishing licenses to foreign fishing companies.

  Also because of the pirates, many Somali fishermen can't go out to sea, not because of the pirates, but because of the international forces fighting against piracy. As long as it's a Somali fishing boat, once it goes out to sea, it will face all kinds of harassment. Many fishermen are mistakenly identified as pirates and have their boats destroyed.

  So, despite having rich fisheries, due to various reasons, the fisheries in its own territorial waters and exclusive economic zone are actually those of other countries.

  Somalia's main economic pillar, accounting for about 40% of GDP. Mainly raising cattle, sheep, camels (the country with the most camels in the world, estimated to be around 6.7 million heads in 2012), etc., and livestock products accounted for 85% of total exports in 2012.

  The transportation industry is backward, and highways are mainly used within the territory, with no intact and operational railways.

  Highways: The total length of main roads is 15,215 km, of which 2,880 km are paved. Except for the part in Somaliland, most of them have been out of repair for many years. Inland transportation mainly relies on cars and camels.

  Water transport: Maritime transport plays an important role, with major ports in the south being Mogadishu and Kismayo, and in the north Berbera and Bosaso. Due to frequent fighting in the south, the two northern ports undertake the main maritime transport tasks. However, due to the backwardness of dock facilities, the throughput is very limited.

  Air transport: There are 61 airports, most of which are small and unpaved. Mogadishu and Bosaso have international airports that can accommodate large aircraft. In 2001, the national airline, Somali Airlines, was re-established but Somaliland and Puntland do not allow its planes to land in their territories.

  In March 2001, Ethiopian Airlines started a twice-weekly flight from Addis Ababa to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. In addition, United Nations planes carrying aid supplies frequently land in Somalia.

  Communications: In 2012, Somalia had 1,200 internet users, with a fixed and mobile phone density of 1.5 per thousand inhabitants.

  Due to the ongoing civil war, Somalia's security situation has deteriorated, prices have skyrocketed, essential goods are in short supply, and residents' lives are not guaranteed. The level of medical care is one of the worst in Africa. In 2012, the capital Mogadishu had only one public hospital and 62 private clinics, with a severe shortage of doctors and medicines, and less than a third of the population had access to medical services, while more than 75% of the population did not have access to safe drinking water. According to estimates by the United Nations Development Programme, in 2021, Somalia's average life expectancy was 47 years old, the malnutrition rate for children under 5 was 25.8%, and the infant mortality rate was as high as 25%.

  Even with the Red Alert base in hand, Li Ran was also very frustrated when she saw the Somali data that her assistant had sorted out. It's not just lagging behind, it's simply unbearable to look at.

  Just as Li Ran was planning for the future in his mind, a gate appeared on the iron fence outside the magnetic energy reactor, and a prompt also came from his mind that the construction of the magnetic energy reactor had been completed.

  The assistant's reminder interrupted Li Ran's worries about the future.

  Glancing at the general beside him, half an hour had unknowingly passed, and the large leg bone that the general had been licking with relish earlier had also disappeared. Looking at its tongue occasionally sweeping across its mouth, it was estimated to still be savoring the flavor.

  Perhaps seeing General Da's slightly silly and enjoyable appearance, Li Lan's mouth corners slightly curved up, thinking: "The future seems to be not so scary after all."