Harardhere (, ) is a historic town in the

Mudug Mudug () is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005. Overview Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia, to the north and south by the Somali regions of Nu ...

province of

Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...

. It is situated in the autonomous

Galmudug Galmudug (; ), officially Galmudug State of Somalia (), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state of Somalia, to the west by the S ...

state and serves as the capital of the

Harardhere District Harardhere District () is a district in the north-central Mudug region of Somalia Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bor ...

History

The town was controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group al-Shabaab from at least 2012 to 2023. In 2018, a US airstrike killed 60 al-Shabaab fighters at a training camp in a rural area outside the town. On 16 January 2023, the town was recaptured by the

Somali Armed Forces The Somali Armed Forces are the military forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Headed by the president as commander-in-chief, they are constitutionally mandated to ensure the nation's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. I ...

Demographics

As of 2005, Harardhere had a population of around 65,543 inhabitants. As with most of Galmudug, it is primarily inhabited by Somalis from the

Hiraab The Hiraab clan (, ), is a prominent Somali clan belonging to the larger Hawiye clan. Renowned for its influential role, the Hiraab clan has produced numerous significant leaders within Somalia, including six presidents, the first president and ...

sub-clan of the

Hawiye The Hawiye (; ) are one of the principal and largest of the Somali clans, tracing their lineage back to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Uthman, also known as Sheikh Hawiye, the eponymous figure of the clan. They are considered the earliest do ...

Notable residents

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (, ) (8 June 1919 – 15 October 1969), was the first Prime Minister of Somalia from 12 July 1960 to 14 June 1964 and the second President of Somalia from 6 July 1967, until his assassination on October 15, 1969.

, second president of Somalia *

Daud Abdulle Hirsi General Daud Abdulle Hirsi (, ; 1925–1965) was a Somali police and military officer, who went on to become first Commander of the Somali Armed Forces.Bildhaan, p. 64. Biography Hirsi was born in 1925 in the town of Mareeg situated in central S ...

, first

commander *

Mohamed Abshir Muse Mohamed Abshir Muse (, ); 1 July 1926 – 25 October 2017), also known as Mahamed Abshir Haamaan, was a prominent Somali General and the first Commander of the Somali Police Force. Early years Abshir Muse was born to a Somali family and recei ...

, first

Somali Police Force The Somali Police Force (SPF; (CBS); ) is the national police force and the main civil law enforcement agency of Somalia. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safe ...

commander *

Salaad Gabeyre Kediye Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (, 1933 – 3 July 1972), also known as Salah Gaveire Kedie, was a Somali senior military official and a revolutionary who was executed by the Siad Barre regime. Biography Kediye was born in Harardhere, Somalia, at the ti ...

, former Somali senior military commander *

Ahmed Mohamed Jimale General Ahmed Jimale Gedi (, ), also known as Ahmed Jimale Gedi Irfid, is a Somali military general. References Living people Chiefs of Defence Force (Somalia) Year of birth missing (living people) {{Somalia-bio-stub ...

, former Chief of staff of Somalia National Army *

Mahad Karate Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame (born between 1957 and 1962), known by his nom de guerre Mahad Karate, is the deputy emir of Al-Shabaab (militant group), Al-Shabaab and the leader of Al-Shabaab's intelligence service, the Amniyat. Early life Mahad K ...

, deputy

emir Emir (; ' (), also Romanization of Arabic, transliterated as amir, is a word of Arabic language, Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocratic, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person po ...

and leader of Al-Shabaab Aminayat

References

Populated places in Mudug Galmudug Populated coastal places in Somalia {{Somalia-geo-stub