States and regions of Somalia
Somalia is a federal republic consisting of six federal states. Somalia is further subdivided into 18 administrative regions (gobollada, singular gobol),[1] which are in turn subdivided into districts. One region, Banaadir, is not part of any state.
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History
Puntland is a federal state in the northeast of Somalia. Galmudug is a federal state in central Somalia. Jubaland is a federal state in the south of Somalia.[1] In November 2014, the South West State of Somalia was established.[2] Hirshabelle State was formed in October 2016.[3]
The Federal Parliament is tasked with selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of autonomous regional states within the Federal Republic of Somalia.[4][5] To this end, the legislature in December 2014 passed a law establishing the Boundary and Federalization Commission.[6] The body is mandated with determining the boundaries of the country's constituent states, as well as arbitrating between these states.[7]
Federal member states
As of 19th October 2023, Somalia is officially divided into 7 federal member states, including the claimed but uncontrolled Somaliland:[8][3][9]
- Galmudug (78,000 km2 (30,000 sq mi)
- Hirshabelle (120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi)
- Jubaland (110,000 km2 (42,000 sq mi)
- Puntland (212,000 km2 (82,000 sq mi)
- South West (98,000 km2 (38,000 sq mi)
- Somaliland (284,899 km2 (110,000 sq mi)
- Khatumo State 103,897 km2 (40,115 sq mi)
Regions
President of Somalia Mohamed Siad Barre established five of these regions in 1974 and 1975 for political reasons: Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Gedo, Bay, and Bakool;[10] Banaadir shrank to consist of only Mogadishu at the same time.[11]
Below are the regions of Somalia, with their capitals shown in parentheses:
- Awdal (Boorama)
- Bakool (Hudur)
- Banadir (Mogadishu)
- Bari (Bosaso)
- Bay (Baidoa)
- Galgaduud (Dhusamareb)
- Gedo (Garbahaarreey)
- Hiiraan (Beledweyn)
- Lower Juba (Kismayo)
- Lower Shabelle (Merca) – established in 1984
- Maroodi-jeh (Hargeisa)
- Middle Juba (Bu'ale)
- Middle Shebelle (Jowhar)
- Mudug (Galkayo)
- Nugal (Garowe)
- Sahil (Berbera)
- Sanaag (Erigavo)
- Sool (Laascanood)
- Togdheer (Burco)
References
- "Somalia". World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- "SOMALIA: South-west state endorses a new constitution". Raxanreeb. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- "New President elected for Hir-Shabelle state". Garoweonline. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- "The Federal Republic of Somalia – Harmonized Draft Constitution" (PDF). Federal Government of Somalia. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- "Guidebook to the Somali Draft Provisional Constitution". Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- "Somali parliament endorses the bill of boundaries and federalism". Goobjoog. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- "Cabinet approves Bills for National Electoral Commission, Boundary and Federalization Commission and a $216 M budget for 2015". Goobjoog. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- "Somalia's regional states submit Upper House nominations". Somali Review. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- "Federal Government of Somalia Recognizes SSC-Khatumo as a Federal State". BNN. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- Mohamed Haji Mukhtar (2011). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Lanham, MD and Oxford: Scarecrow Press. p. 129.
- Mukhtar, 2011, p.48