So·ma·li·a (s -mä l - , -mäly) A country of extreme eastern Africa on the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Arab and Persian traders first established outposts in the region between the 7th and 10th centuries. European colonization began in the 19th century, with the protectorate of British Somaliland established in the north in 1887. The southern territory eventually came under Italian control and in 1936 was combined with newly conquered Ethiopian territory to form Italian East Africa. Britain ruled the entire region after World War II, with Italy returning in 1950 to administer its former protectorate under a UN mandate. The independent republic of Somalia was created in 1960 out of the British and Italian territories. Mogadishu is the capital and the largest city. Population: 9,120,000. So·ma li·an adj. & n. |   |
Somalia [səʊˈmɑːlɪə]
n
(Placename) a republic in NE Africa, on the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden: the north became a British protectorate in 1884; the east and south were established as an Italian protectorate in 1889; gained independence and united as the Somali Republic in 1960. In 1991 the former British Somaliland region in the north unilaterally declared itself independent as the Republic of Somaliland but this has not been recognized officially. Official languages: Arabic and Somali. Official religion: (Sunni) Muslim. Currency: Somali shilling. Capital: Mogadishu. Pop.: 7 489 000 (2001 est.). Area: 637 541 sq. km (246 154 sq. miles)
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Somalia - a republic in extreme eastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; subject to tribal warfareAIAI, al Itihaad al Islamiya, al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, Islamic Unity - a fundamentalist Islamic group in Somalia who initially did fundraising for al-Qaeda; responsible for ambushing United States Army Rangers and for terrorist bombings in Ethiopia; believed to have branches in several countries Arab League - an international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to promote cultural and economic and military and political and social cooperation capital of Somalia, Mogadiscio, Mogadishu - the capital and largest city of Somalia; a port on the Indian Ocean Hargeisa - a city in northwestern Somalia Horn of Africa, Somali peninsula - a peninsula of northeastern Africa (the easternmost part of Africa) comprising Somalia and Djibouti and Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia Africa - the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean |
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