A gunman in the Shingani district in central Mogadishu which is in ruins after years of factional fighting. © Martin Adler (Panos)
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991, when it descended into civil war.
Nearly two decades of conflict, exacerbated by natural disaster, have created some of the worst human indicators in the world. The UN estimates that 3.2 million Somalis (approximately 40% of the population) require relief assistance in 2009. This is the largest proportion of the population requiring relief of any country in the world. Starvation and disease continue to pose the largest threat.
However, while ongoing fighting has led to a drastic decline in security and social development, there have been some visible improvements in the private sector, which has been remarkably resilient.