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The regions of Somaliland ( so, Gobolada Somaliland; ar, محافظات صوماليلاند) is divided into six administrative regions, Awdal, Sahil, Maroodi-Jeeh,
Togdheer Togdheer ( so, Togdheer, ar, تُوْجْدَيْر, Tūjdayr) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool to the east a ...
, Sanaag and
Sool Sool ( so, Sool, ar, صول) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in south eastern Somaliland/north western Somalia. It borders Togdheer to the west, Sanaag to the north, Ethiopia to the south and Nugal, Bari to the east. Its capital city ...
. 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 (June 26-July 1, 1960). At the time of the integration with
Italian Somaliland Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...
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 ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Somalia, French So ...
and latter State of Somaliland"> British Somaliland Districts.png


Union era

On July 1, 1960, the State of Somaliland annexed
Italian Somaliland Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...
and became independent again as the Somali Republic. 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 Erigavo ( so, Ceerigaabo, ), also spelled as Erigabo, is the capital and largest city of the Sanaag region of Somaliland. History The Erigavo settlement is several centuries old. The surrounding area was supposedly built by the Madigan Dir ...
,
Burao Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (; so, Burco, , ar, برعو) is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was also the third largest city of Somalia. Burao was the site of the declaration of an in ...
and
Las Anod Las Anod ( so, Laascaanood; ar, لاسعانود) is the administrative capital of the Sool, Somaliland, Sool region of Somaliland. Territorial dispute The city is disputed by Puntland and Somaliland. The former bases its claim due to the ki ...
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 (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. I ...
,
Borama Borama ( so, Boorama, ar, بورما) is the Second capital city of Somaliland and 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 Mid ...
and Hargeisa 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 ( so, Togdheer, ar, تُوْجْدَيْر, Tūjdayr) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool to the east a ...
, and Sanaag. In June 1984, Awdal was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed, and
Sool Sool ( so, Sool, ar, صول) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in south eastern Somaliland/north western Somalia. It borders Togdheer to the west, Sanaag to the north, Ethiopia to the south and Nugal, Bari to the east. Its capital city ...
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, or the Ethio-Somali War (, am, የኢትዮጵያ ሶማሊያ ጦርነት, ye’ītiyop’iya somalīya t’orineti), was a military conflict fought between Somalia and Ethiopia from July 1977 to March 1978 over the Ethiop ...
(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 ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiya Soomaaliyeed; ar, الجمهورية الديمقراطية الصومالية, ; it, Repubblica Democratica Somala) was the name that the socialist military government gave to S ...
1982-1991"> Somalia1969.png, Administrative divisions of Somali Republic in 1969 Somalia Physiography.jpg, Administrative divisions of
Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiya Soomaaliyeed; ar, الجمهورية الديمقراطية الصومالية, ; it, Repubblica Democratica Somala) was the name that the socialist military government gave to S ...
in 1991


Re-independence

The northern regions declared independence from
Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiya Soomaaliyeed; ar, الجمهورية الديمقراطية الصومالية, ; it, Repubblica Democratica Somala) was the name that the socialist military government gave to S ...
after a 10 year long
war of independence This is a list of wars of independence (also called liberation wars). These wars may or may not have been successful in achieving a goal of independence. List See also * Lists of active separatist movements * List of civil wars * List of ...
and restoration of sovereignty on May 18, 1991, and the
Republic of Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign s ...
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, 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: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
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: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
and was incorporated into law only in Baligubadle District.
Berbera District Berbera District ( so, Degmada Barbara) is a district of the Sahil province in Somaliland. Its capital lies at Berbera. Demographics It is inhabited by people from the CIISE MUUSE, Garhajis and Habr Je'lo sub-clans of the Isaaq Somalis Th ...
in Woqooyi Galbeed became by executive order Sahil, and in 1998 the Sheikh District of
Togdheer Togdheer ( so, Togdheer, ar, تُوْجْدَيْر, Tūjdayr) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool to the east a ...
was incorporated into Sahil. In 2007, The region of Woqooyi Galbeed was renamed to
Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh ( so, Maroodi Jeex, ar, مرودي جيح) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, Togdheer to the eas ...
(Chapter 1, Article 2 3 ]). Regions of Soamaliland 1991–2008.jpg, Administrative divisions of
Republic of Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign s ...
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 (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 Taleh ( so, Taleex, ar, تليح) is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland. As of September 2015, both Puntland and Somaliland had nominal influence or control in Taleh and it's vicinity. The town served as the capital ...
, Sarmanyo, Godaalo,
Hallin Scandza was described as a "great island" by Gothic-Byzantine historian Jordanes in his work ''Getica''. The island was located in the Arctic regions of the sea that surrounded the world. The location is usually identified with Scandinavia. Jor ...
, 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 Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign s ...
in 2008 Regions of Soamaliland 2014.jpg, Administrative divisions of
Republic of Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign s ...
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 British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Somalia, French Soma ...
, however the
Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 19 ...
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 and 22 districts. Districts in turn contain villages. In addition, the capital Hargeisa has its own law (capital law) that is differen ...
* Districts of Somaliland *
Somalia–Somaliland border The Somalia–Somaliland border ( so, Xuduuda Soomaaliya iyo Soomaaliland; ar, الحدود بين الصومال وصوماليلاند), is the disputed border between Somalia and the self-declared sovereign state of Somaliland. It is an in ...


References

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