Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland. Somalia has an estimated population of more than 18 million, of which 2.7 million live in the capital and largest city, Mogadishu. As one of Africa's most ethnically homogeneous countries, around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis. Somalia’s civilian population bears the brunt of ongoing conflict, political violence, and extreme weather shocks. The authorities severely restricted independent reporting, particularly on. Somalia is the easternmost country of Africa, on the Horn of Africa. It extends from just south of the Equator northward to the Gulf of Aden and occupies an important geopolitical position between sub-Saharan Africa and the countries of Arabia and southwestern Asia. The capital is Mogadishu. The easternmost country of Africa, Somalia lies on the Horn of Africa and extends from just south of the Equator northward to the Gulf of Aden. The Somali people make up the most of the population; the majority of them follow a mobile way of life, pursuing nomadic pastoralism or agropastoralism. Somalia's complex reality: from terrorist safe haven to urban recovery, exploring daily life amid corruption, clan conflict and hopes for democracy. Somalia has a population of 19 million people within its borders, 10 million in neighboring countries, and nearly 2 million in the global diaspora. About 10% of the Somali diaspora live within North America. Why is the US bombing Somalia? The strikes are part of a long-running military campaign to bolster security by degrading al-Shabaab, an Islamist extremist group, and more recently an Islamic State. Somalia is an African country located in the Horn of Africa (a peninsula forming the easternmost projection of Africa). The Equator passes through southern Somalia. Stay on top of Somalia latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera’s fact-based news, exclusive video footage, photos and updated maps. Somalia (Somali: Somaliya; aṣ-Ṣūmāl), officially the Federal Republic of Somalia (Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmāl al-Fideraaliya) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa.