States and regions of Somalia
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Somalia is a federal republic consisting of six federal states and one interim administration. 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.
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]
- Galmudug (108,889 km2 (42,042 sq mi))
- Hirshabelle (100,821 km2 (38,927 sq mi))
- Jubaland (110,102 km2 (42,511 sq mi))
- Khatumo (103,897 km2 (40,115 sq mi))
- Puntland (106,510 km2 (41,120 sq mi))
- Somaliland (110,487 km2 (42,659 sq mi))
- South West (100,089 km2 (38,645 sq mi))
Regions
President of Somalia Mohamed Siad Barre established five of these regions in 1974 and 1975 for baised clan reasons, Middle Juba, Lower Juba, Gedo, Bay, and Bakool;[9] Banaadir shrank to consist of only Mogadishu at the same time.[10]
Below are the regions of Somalia, with their capitals shown in parentheses:
- Bakool (Hudur)
- Banadir (Mogadishu)
- Bari (Bosaso)
- Bay (Baidoa)
- Galgaduud (Dhusamareb)
- Gedo (Garbahaarreey)
- Hiiraan (Beledweyn)
- Lower Juba (Kismayo)
- Lower Shabelle (Merca) – established in 1984[citation needed]
- Middle Juba (Bu'ale)
- Middle Shebelle (Jowhar)
- Mudug (Galkayo)
- Nugal (Garowe)
- Sool (Laascaanood)
See also
References
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Mohamed Haji Mukhtar (2011). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Lanham, MD and Oxford: Scarecrow Press. p. 129.
- ^ Mukhtar, 2011, p.48