Federal Republic of Somalia

The Federal Republic of Somalia, commonly known as Somalia, is a sovereign state located in the easternmost part of continental Africa, stretching across the Horn of Africa. It borders Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean, possessing Africa's longest mainland coastline. Founded in 1960, Somalia has an estimated population of over 18 million, with 2.7 million residing in its capital, Mogadishu. The country's official and national language is Somali, with Arabic also recognized. Historically, Somalia was an important commercial center and home to powerful Somali empires before being colonized by Italian and British empires in the late 19th century. The two colonial territories united in 1960 to form the independent Somali Republic.