Somalia civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Somalia with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
Somalia's capital, currency, official language, the 2012 Provisional Constitution and the 1962 Citizenship Law.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the capital of Somalia?
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, on the Indian Ocean coast, is the capital of Somalia.
What is the currency of Somalia?
Somali shilling
Somalia's currency is the Somali shilling.
What is the official language of Somalia?
Somali
Somali is the official and national language. The Provisional Constitution recognises Arabic as a second language.
In which year was Somalia’s Provisional Constitution adopted?
2012
The Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia was adopted on 1 August 2012.
Under the 1962 Somali Citizenship Law, how many years of residence are generally required for naturalisation?
7 years
Law No. 28 of 1962 generally requires at least seven years of residence in Somalia before an adult can apply for naturalisation.
History 5 questions
Independence and union on 1 July 1960, the first president and the adoption of a Somali script in 1972.
On what date did Somalia become independent and unite as the Somali Republic?
1 July 1960
On 1 July 1960 the Trust Territory of Somaliland became independent and united with the former British Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.
Which two territories united in 1960 to form the Somali Republic?
British Somaliland and the Italian-administered south
British Somaliland became independent on 26 June 1960 and united with the Italian-administered Trust Territory on 1 July 1960.
Who led the Dervish resistance against colonial forces from 1899 to 1920?
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan
Mohammed Abdullah Hassan led the Dervish movement, which resisted British, Italian and Ethiopian forces for about two decades until 1920.
Who was the first president of the Somali Republic?
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Aden Abdullah Osman Daar became the first president of the Somali Republic in 1960.
In which year was a Latin-based script officially adopted for writing Somali?
1972
In 1972 Somalia officially adopted a Latin-based script for the Somali language, which became the language of government and schooling.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
The Horn of Africa, the Jubba and Shabelle rivers, the Gulf of Aden, the flag and pastoral traditions.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
What does Somalia’s flag show?
A white star on a light blue field
Somalia's flag is light blue with a white five-pointed star in the centre.
Which two major rivers flow through southern Somalia?
Jubba and Shabelle
The Jubba and Shabelle rivers rise in the Ethiopian Highlands and flow south through Somalia.
Which body of water lies along Somalia’s northern coast?
Gulf of Aden
Somalia's northern coast faces the Gulf of Aden, while its eastern coast faces the Indian Ocean.
Somalia lies on which peninsula of north-east Africa?
Horn of Africa
Somalia occupies the tip of the Horn of Africa, the peninsula jutting into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Which animal is central to the traditional pastoral economy and culture of Somalia?
The camel
Camels have long been central to Somali pastoral life, valued for milk, transport and wealth, and feature widely in poetry and tradition.
Think you know them?
Take a timed mock exam in the real Somalia Civics format.