Government Type: no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government
Capital: Mogadishu
Other Major Cities/Regions: Baidoa, Kismayo, Beledweyne, Somali Land, Punt Land
Size: 637,657 sq km
Climate: principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Population: 9,118,000
Ethnic Groups: Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)
Religion: Sunni Muslim
Language: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
