Mogadishu, Federal Republic of Somalia

Two and a half decades of conflict, concentrated mainly in southern Somalia, destroyed much of the country’s government structure, economic infrastructure, and institutions. Following the collapse of the Siad Barre government, in January 1991, Somalia experienced deep cycles of internal conflict that fragmented the country, undermined legitimate institutions, and created widespread vulnerability. Though recent discoveries of oil reservoirs off the coast has gained Somalia some business attention from private companies around the world, it is most notoriously recognized for the high rate of piracy and ransom attacks on commercial shipping vessels passing through the Indian Ocean from Yemen.