So·ma·li·a /səˈmɑːliə/ a country in East Africa between Ethiopa, Kenya, and the Indian Ocean. Population: 10,251,568 (2014). Capital: Mogadishu. Since 1991, there has been a civil war in Somalia between opposing military groups, and many people have died in the war or as a result of serious food shortages. US troops were sent there in 1993 with the aim of establishing peace, but they left in 1994 after some US soldiers were killed.