COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 35
Somalia has a large informal economy, based on agriculture and livestock (40 % of GDP), money transfer services,
and telecommunications. External (humanitarian) aid and remittances (which make up 35 % of GDP - the highest
worldwide ( 194 )) are the key sources of income. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, sesame ( 195 ) and bananas are
Somalia’s principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, khat and processed goods are the principal imports ( 196 ).
Mogadishu’s main market, Bakara, provides a large variety of goods, from food to electronic gadgets and weapons.
Hotels continue to operate, protected by private security militias. Since Al‐Shabaab’s retreat from Mogadishu in
August 2011, some parts of the city have seen a fast development with new gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants
and hotels, and direct international flights. All over Somalia, an advanced system of wireless internet, money transfer
services and mobile phones has been developed. Many diaspora Somalis have returned, some temporarily, some
for good. Outside Mogadishu, economic growth has yet to take off, depending on the level of security ( 197 ).
The UN Independent Expert, Shamsul Bari, remarked in August 2013: ‘After more than 20 tortuous years of armed
hostilities, which still continue in some areas, Somalia has reached a turning point. While there is still a long way to go
to return to normalcy, there are visible signs of change all around. The palpable improvements in the security situation
in Mogadishu and in an increasing number of areas in the country is reflected in the return of an impressive number
of people from the diaspora, including businessmen lured by the promises that have been made. Both international
and United Nations flights to and from Mogadishu are full. Business activities and construction of buildings are on
the rise. Though serious concerns remain about the security situation as a result, for example, of clan infighting in
Kismayo and Jubaland, there are clear signs of hope in the air.’ ( 198 )
However, Somalia still faces many challenges in its economic reconstruction, such as good governance, capacity
building, legislation and anti‐corruption measures ( 199 ).
1.8.2 Humanitarian situation
Between 2010 and 2012, nearly 260 000 people, half of them children, died because of a severe famine that hit the
central provinces of Somalia ( 200 ). Although the famine officially ended in February 2012, an estimated 3.7 million
Somalis were still in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in June 2012 ( 201 ). The underlying causes of the famine
were multiple: severe drought and several failed rainy seasons, the ongoing conflict, rapidly rising food prices, the
restricted humanitarian access to the population, the ban on World Food Programme and other aid organisations
by Al‐Shabaab in 2010 and the absence of adequate alternative aid to the people in Al‐Shabaab areas ( 202 ).
According to the September 2013 UN Secretary General report on Somalia, the humanitarian situation had
improved. This was ‘a result of improved security in pockets of the country, sustained assistance and favourable
weather conditions’ ( 203 ). However, as of December 2013, 870 000 people were still unable to meet their basic food
requirements without humanitarian assistance and a further 2.3 million only barely met their food needs and relied
( 194 ) World Bank, Somalia Overview, last updated 4 April 2014 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/somalia/overview) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 195 ) IRIN, Five challenges for Somalia’s economic reconstruction, 14 February 2014 (http://www.irinnews.org/report/99647/
five‐challenges‐for‐somalia‐s‐economic‐reconstruction) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 196 ) CIA, The World Factbook – Somalia, last updated 16 April 2014 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the‐world‐factbook/geos/so.html) accessed
16 May 2014.
( 197 ) CIA, The World Factbook – Somalia, last updated 16 April 2014 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the‐world‐factbook/geos/so.html) accessed
16 May 2014.
( 198 ) UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari, 16 August 2013 (http://reliefweb.int/
sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/A‐HRC-24-40_en%20%281%29.pdf) accessed 16 June 2014, p. 18.
( 199 ) IRIN, Five challenges for Somalia’s economic reconstruction, 14 February 2014 (http://www.irinnews.org/report/99647/
five‐challenges‐for‐somalia‐s‐economic‐reconstruction) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 200 ) FAO Somalia, Mortality among populations of southern and central Somalia affected by severe food insecurity and famine during 2010-2012, 2 May 2013
(http://www.faosomalia.org/newsletters/Somalia_Mortality_Estimates_Final_Report_1May2013_upload.pdf) accessed 9 May 2014.
( 201 ) UN OCHA, ‘Horn of Africa Crisis: 2011-2012’, Reliefweb [online portal] (http://reliefweb.int/disaster/dr-2011-000029-ken) accessed 12 May 2014; UNHCR,
Somalia factsheet, June 2012 (http://img.static.reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full%20Report_817.pdf) accessed 12 May 2014.
( 202 ) FAO Somalia, Mortality among populations of southern and central Somalia affected by severe food insecurity and famine during 2010-2012, 2 May 2013 (http://
www.faosomalia.org/newsletters/Somalia_Mortality_Estimates_Final_Report_1May2013_upload.pdf) accessed 9 May 2014; WFP, Somalia - Trend Analysis
of Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Somalia 2007-2012, November 2012 (http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp254879.pdf)
accessed 9 May 2014, p. 50-51. The Trend Analysis showed that an average of 2.4 million people was affected by food insecurity and famine (receiving food
aid, fleeing to better areas, dying from hunger).
( 203 ) UN Security Council, Report of the Secretary‐General on Somalia (S/2013/623), 3 September 2013 (http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-
6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2013_623.pdf) accessed 12 May 2014; see also: FSNAU/FEWSNET, Acute malnutrition persists in Somalia while 870,000
people remain food insecure, 3 September 2013 (http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/joint_fews_net‐fsnau_technical_release_09_2013.
pdf) accessed 12 May 2014.