Page 6 - Somalia Report

The Republic of Somalia

Key country indicators
Location

The Republic of Somalia is located at a Population 10,800,000
geographical region referred to as the horn
Country Profile
of Africa. It borders Kenya to the southwest, GDP US $ (billion) 5.9
the Gulf of Aden to the North, Ethiopia to the GNI
The Republic of Somalia
west and Indian Ocean to the East. Its strategic Total land area 627,000 km 2
geographical position makes Somalia have the
longest coastline in mainland Africa. In the past, Length of coastline 2,470 km
this long coastline was of essential commercial Exclusive Economic Zone 1,165,500 km 2
importance in that it connected the Indian Ocean, Continental shelf km 2
Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea (Dalton Yasmin, Mangrove 48 km 2
2019).
Coral reef 710 km 2
Somalia’s terrain is one of plateau and plains. Marine protected area 18% of territorial water
The North is characterized by mountain ranges Source: (World Bank, 2017)
lying at a distance from the gulf. Rainfall is sparse
in Somalia and the temperatures are hot throughout the year. Despite the harshness of this arid
environment, majority of Somalians are nomads, with few engaging in agriculture in areas with
moderate rainfall.

Marine resources
Somalia’s maritime plain ranges from a 12 km width in the west to 2 km in the east. The Northern
coastal line stretches to about 1000 km from Cape Guardafui to Djibout. The eastern coast stretches
to about 2000 km along the Indian Ocean from Kenya to Ras Asir. The total coastline registers about
3,333 km, making it the longest in mainland Africa (Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources, 2016).
The South western has two permanent rivers namely the Juba and Shabeelle which meet the coastal
zone that extends from the Kenyan Border to the Mudug Plain. Juba descends into the Indian Ocean
and Sheba reaches the sea near Marka.

Ecosystem management and conservation
The challenge

Somalia’s vast marine and coastal ecosystem supports mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrasses
that hold opportunities for coastal communities, as long as they are managed sustainably.
The fisheries supported by these ecosystems are important contributors to food security, local
livelihoods and the national economy. However, they are under threat from the extreme effects of
climate change such as flash floods and drought and other human development activities such
as deforestation.

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