Regions Of Somaliland
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The regions of Somaliland (; ) is divided into six administrative regions, Awdal, Sahil, Maroodi-Jeeh,
Togdheer Togdheer (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Sahil, Somaliland, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool, Somalia ...
,
Sanaag Sanag (, ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north eastern Somaliland.Regions of Somalia
Sa ...
and Sool. These are in turn subdivided into twenty-two
districts A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
. Regions of Somaliland are the primary geographical divisions through which Somaliland is administered. A distinction is made between districts of grades A, B, C and D, with the classification being based on population, area, economy and production.


Regions


History


British territory and independence era

The local administration of British Somaliland (1884-June 26, 1960) was stipulated primarily by the Local Government Ordinance of 1953. The ordinance established councils in six districts that had divided Somaliland since 1944. The ordinance continued to be used after independence as the
State of Somaliland Somaliland, officially the State of Somaliland (), was an independent country in the territory of the present-day unilaterally declared Republic of Somaliland, which regards itself as its legal successor. It existed on the territory of former ...
(June 26-July 1, 1960). At the time of the integration with
Italian Somaliland Italian Somaliland (; ; ) was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia, which was ruled in the 19th century by the Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate in the north, and by the Hiraab Imamate and ...
on July 1, 1960, there were the following six districts. *Berbera *Borama *Burao *Erigavo *Hargeisa *Las Anod The council (capital) was located in the city of the same name. These six areas were inherited by the regions established after the reindependence in 1991, and have a six-regionsystem with the six cities where the council was located as the capital. British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate (), was a protectorate of the United Kingdom in modern Somaliland. It was bordered by Italian Somalia, French Somali Coast and Ethiopian Empire, Abyssinia (Italian Ethiopia from 1936 ...
and latter
State of Somaliland Somaliland, officially the State of Somaliland (), was an independent country in the territory of the present-day unilaterally declared Republic of Somaliland, which regards itself as its legal successor. It existed on the territory of former ...
"> British Somaliland Districts.png


Union era

On July 1, 1960, the
State of Somaliland Somaliland, officially the State of Somaliland (), was an independent country in the territory of the present-day unilaterally declared Republic of Somaliland, which regards itself as its legal successor. It existed on the territory of former ...
annexed
Italian Somaliland Italian Somaliland (; ; ) was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia, which was ruled in the 19th century by the Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate in the north, and by the Hiraab Imamate and ...
and became independent again as the
Somali Republic The Somali Republic (; ; ) was formed by the union of the Trust Territory of Somaliland (formerly Italian Somaliland) and the State of Somaliland (formerly British Somaliland). A government was formed by Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Muhammad ...
. From then on, the former British territory is called the "northern region" and the former Italian territory with the capital Mogadishu is called the "southern region". On June 14, 1962, the six former British territories were reorganized into two states. The six districts that made up the former Italian territory have been transferred to the state as they are. *Burao region (North East region): Erigavo,
Burao Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (; , , ), is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was the site of the Somaliland Declaration of Independence, declaration of an independent Somaliland on 18 May 19 ...
and
Las Anod Las Anod (; ) is the administrative capital of the Sool region, currently controlled by Khatumo State forces aligned with Somalia. Territorial dispute The city is disputed by Puntland and Somaliland. The former bases its claim due to the kins ...
merged. It has a population of 330,000 (estimated in 1961) and an area of 128,000 square kilometers. *Hargeisa region (North West region):
Berbera Berbera (; , ) is the capital of the Sahil, Somaliland, Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country, located approximately 160 km from the national capital, Hargeisa. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of t ...
,
Borama Borama (, ) is the largest city of the northwestern Awdal region of Somaliland. The commercial seat of the province, it is situated near the border with Ethiopia. During the Middle Ages, Borama was ruled by the Adal Sultanate. It later formed a ...
and
Hargeisa Hargeisa ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also th ...
districts merged. It has a population of 270,000 (same as above) and an area of 48,000 square kilometers. Subsequently, the "Local Administration and Local Assembly Election Act" was enacted on August 14, 1963, and a district (District, different from that of the British territory) council was established. A decree governing region and district organization on February 8, 1967 established a two-tiered region-district structure. On October 21, 1969, a military coup by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Siad Barre broke out. Barre, who seized power, placed all local governments, including regions and districts, under the direct control of the government under the "Local Government Reform Act" of June 8, 1972, and was a party under the decree of February 3, 1977. He established a local rule system based on dictatorship socialism. By 1982, the Barre administration had reorganized the regions of the country, and the two northern regions were divided into Woqooyi Galbeed,
Togdheer Togdheer (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Sahil, Somaliland, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool, Somalia ...
, and
Sanaag Sanag (, ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north eastern Somaliland.Regions of Somalia
Sa ...
. In June 1984, Awdal was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed, and Sool was separated from Nugal (former Italian territory) (although there is a theory that the addition of these two regions was not implemented ). .. During the
Ogaden War The Ogaden War, also known as the Ethio-Somali War (, ), was a military conflict between Somali Democratic Republic, Somalia and derg, Ethiopia fought from July 1977 to March 1978 over control of the sovereignty of the Ogaden region. Somalia ...
(1977–1988), the same number of refugees as the population at that time (estimated at 1.3 million) rushed to the northern region, and the governing body was paralyzed. Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic (; , ; ) was a socialist state in Somalia that existed from 1969 to 1991. Established in October 1969, the Somali Democratic Republic emerged following a 1969 Somali coup d'état, coup d'état led by Major General ...
1982-1991"> Somalia1969.png, Administrative divisions of
Somali Republic The Somali Republic (; ; ) was formed by the union of the Trust Territory of Somaliland (formerly Italian Somaliland) and the State of Somaliland (formerly British Somaliland). A government was formed by Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Muhammad ...
in 1969 Somalia Physiography.jpg, Administrative divisions of
Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic (; , ; ) was a socialist state in Somalia that existed from 1969 to 1991. Established in October 1969, the Somali Democratic Republic emerged following a 1969 Somali coup d'état, coup d'état led by Major General ...
in 1991


Re-independence

The northern regions declared independence from
Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic (; , ; ) was a socialist state in Somalia that existed from 1969 to 1991. Established in October 1969, the Somali Democratic Republic emerged following a 1969 Somali coup d'état, coup d'état led by Major General ...
after a 10 year long
war of independence Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...
and restoration of sovereignty on May 18, 1991, and the Republic of Somaliland was established. According to the "Decrees Establishing the Structure of the Ministry of Interior and regions / Districts" in 1993, it was divided into 6 regions inherited from the era of Somaliland, 18 districts during the Somali era, and one district created by the
Somaliland government The Government of the Republic of Somaliland (JSL) (, ) is the central government of Somaliland. The Government of Somaliland consists of legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each of which functions independently from the others. T ...
, for a total of 19 districts. In addition, provincial assessments were carried out. Twenty-three districts were created by executive order after independence, but nearly all districts were not approved by
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
for failing to meet district standards. By 1993, it was approved by
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
and was incorporated into law only in Baligubadle District. Berbera District in Woqooyi Galbeed became by executive order Sahil, and in 1998 the Sheikh District of
Togdheer Togdheer (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Sahil, Somaliland, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool, Somalia ...
was incorporated into Sahil. In 2007, The region of Woqooyi Galbeed was renamed to Maroodi Jeex (Chapter 1, Article 2 3 ]). Regions of Soamaliland 1991–2008.jpg, Administrative divisions of Republic of Somaliland in 1991


2008–2014

Between 22 March and 15 May 2008, then president of Somaliland Dahir Riyale Kahin issued a press statement announcing the creation of six new regions and 16 new districts, in addition to the corresponding administrative divisions already existing as created by Somalia's central government. On May 15, 2008, Kahin released a second statement declaring the Hawd the thirteenth region of Somaliland. In June 2014, Somaliland president
Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (, ; 1 June 1938 – 15 November 2024), known by his nickname Silanyo (), was a Somaliland politician who served as the President of Somaliland from 2010 to 2017. During the 1980s, he also served as the Chairman of the ...
(Ex-president) announced the creation of Somaliland's 14th region, consisting of 4 new districts. The new region, dubbed Haysimo was formed out of the eastern Sool and Sanaag regional districts. It contains the cities of Taleh, Sarmanyo, Godaalo, Hallin, and Aroley. The presidential decree stated that Taleh is the regional capital. 8 regions created by President Dahir rayale and Silanyo were not approved by parliament because the new regional boundaries are not clearly demarcated. Regions of Somaliland.svg, Administrative divisions of Republic of Somaliland in 2008 Regions of Soamaliland 2014.jpg, Administrative divisions of Republic of Somaliland in 2014


Current administrative divisions

Currently, Somaliland is divided in 6 regions, Awdal, Sahil, Maroodi-Jeeh, Toghdeer, Sanaag and Sool. This is in accordance with 2 political studies published on Somaliland in 2011 and 2015 and ActionAID, a humanitarian organization currently active in Somaliland. In 2019 the local government law passed in 2019 (Lr. 23/2019, hereinafter referred to as the 2019 local government law), regions that "Somaliland is divided into six regions (Article 9 of the same law)". The 2019 Local Government Act came into force on January 4, 2020. The regional boundaries are supposed to correspond to the boundaries of the six districts under the Somaliland protectorate, however the
Siad Barre Mohammed Siad Barre (, Osmanya script: , ''Muhammad Ziād Barīy''; 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician, and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 Janu ...
era boundaries serve as the de facto boundaries. Article 11, section 1 of the amended Local Government Act which came into force in 2020 provides: Somaliland regions map.svg, Current administrative divisions


See also

*
Administrative divisions of Somaliland The administrative division of Somaliland are organized into three hierarchical levels. consists of 6 Regions of Somaliland, regions and 22 Districts of Somaliland, districts. Districts in turn contain villages. In addition, the capital Hargeis ...
* Districts of Somaliland * Somalia–Somaliland border


References

{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries Subdivisions of Somaliland Somaliland 1 Regions, Somaliland Somaliland geography-related lists