History of Somalia History of Somalia Somalia (; ), officially the Federal Republic of Somalia (, ) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Somalia was an important centre for commerce with the rest of the ancient world, and according to most scholars, it is among the most probable locations of the fabled ancient Land of Punt. During the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade, including the Ajuran Sultanate, the Adal Sultanate, the Warsangali Sultanate, the Sultanate of the Geledi and the Majeerteen Sultanate. In the late 19th century,
Women in Somalia Women in Somalia Women in Somalia form a key part of Somali society, with clearly defined and important roles in the family and clan structure. This includes Somali women in the autonomous Puntland region and Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region (Federal Member State) of Somalia. According to a poll cited by Face2Face Africa, Somalia has the most beautiful women in Africa. Most people in Somalia are Muslims. Somalia's population is expanding at a growth rate of 1.67% per annum and a birth rate of 41.45 births/1,000 people. Somalia's total fertility rate in 2013