SOMALIA History British and Italian have colonized Somalia until the coup d’etat in 1969 leaded by Mohamed Siad Barre. He was able to stabilize the country for a couple of decades before his government fell down in 1991. During that period, Somalia went through wars and anarchy. The northern clans of the Republic of Somaliland declared themselves independent in May 1991 but were not recognized by any government. They have tried to establish a stable and democratic government with parliamentary and presidential elections. The state of Puntland has also self governed since 1998, but did not declared themselves as independent. Their government suffered a civil war when Puntland tried to protect its borders with Somaliland. The UN tried to intervene by helping with the famine but after leaving the territory the situation has only gotten worse. The UN supported talks between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) in 2008. A TFG-ARS unity government was created in January 2009, and Ethiopian forces withdrew from the country. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was elected as president on January 31, 2009 in Djibouti. Current and Interesting Facts: Capital: Mogadishu Official Languages: Somali and Arabic Government: Coalition Government. President: Sharif Ahmed. Economy: relies heavily on agriculture (bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans) with livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, fish). The main industries include sugar refining, textiles, and wireless communication. Demography: about 9 millions of inhabitants. 85% are Somali, 15% are Bantu and other non-Somali (including Arabs). Religion: majority are Sunni Muslims. Geography The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Ethiopia to the west. The climate is mostly dominated by the desert. There are fair temperatures in the north but hot ones in the south. The terrain includes undulating plateau and hills in the north. Culture Arranged marriage and clan into families is very important and valued in Somalia. The five main clan families include Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Isaaq, and Rahanweyn. The dressing code in Somalia is not westernized and include for men macawis and turban, and for women guuntino and niqab. Tourism The main sites of tourism include: Cal Madow (mountain range) in the northeastern. The Karkaar Mountains in the east west ranges..