Beledweyne
{{Short description|Capital city of the Hiran region in Somalia}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name =
| official_name = Beledweyne
| native_name = Beled Weyne
| other_name =
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Beledweyne 01.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption = Aerial view of Beledweyne
| image_flag =
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| pushpin_map = Somalia#Horn of Africa#Africa
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Somalia##Location within the Horn of Africa##Location within Africa
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|04|44|09|N|045|12|13|E|region:SO-HI|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Somalia}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Hirshabeelle.png|size=23px}} Hirshabelle
| subdivision_name2 = Hiran
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| government_footnotes =
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| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Nadar Tabaax Malin
| unit_pref = Metric
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| timezone = EAT
| utc_offset = +3
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Beledweyne ({{langx|so|Beledweyne}}, {{langx|ar|بلد وين}}) is a city in central Somalia. Beledweyne District is the capital city of the Hiran region.
The city is situated in the Shebelle Valley riverine near the Ethiopian border, 210 miles (345 km) north of Mogadishu. Beledweyne is divided by the Shebelle River into eastern and western sections.{{Cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sHYoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA59|title = The Islamic Movement in Somalia|isbn = 9781912234035|date = 2015-04-30| publisher=Adonis & Abbey Publishers |access-date = 2020-11-24|archive-date = 2023-04-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230415114141/https://books.google.com/books?id=sHYoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA59|url-status = live}}
History
During the Ethiopian invasion that occurred during June 1982, Beledweyne was a primary objective before driving onto the Somali coastline.{{Cite book |last=Prunier |first=Gérard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ynEhEAAAQBAJ |title=The Country that Does Not Exist: A History of Somaliland |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-78738-203-9 |pages=52 |language=en}} On 30 June 1982{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2AMAQAAIAAJ |title=Ethiopia's Invasion of Somalia, 1982-83 |date=1983 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somali Democratic Republic |pages=6 |language=en}} the first offensive came at the border town of Ferfer a few kilometers away from the city, in an attempt to capture the high ground overlooking a vital roadway connecting north and south Somalia. Despite heavy ground and air attacks, the army garrison stationed in Beledweyne inflicted heavy losses on the invaders and repulsed the Ethiopians. Soon after a stalemate ensued as the conflict became a border war.{{Cite book |last1=Woodward |first1=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4EJyAAAAMAAJ |title=Conflict and Peace in the Horn of Africa: Federalism and Its Alternatives |last2=Forsyth |first2=Murray Greensmith |date=1994 |publisher=Dartmouth Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-85521-486-6 |pages=112–113 |language=en}}
During the invasion of Somalia in 2006, the Ethiopian Air Force began carrying out airstrikes on Islamic Courts Union targets in the city of Beledweyne and other towns in central Somalia.{{Cite web |date=24 Dec 2006 |title=Ethiopia launches attack on Somalia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/12/24/ethiopia-launches-attack-on-somalia |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=24 December 2006 |title=غارات جوية وإثيوبيا تعلن رسميا الحرب على محاكم الصومال |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2006/12/24/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8 |work=Al Jazeera |language=Arabic |trans-quote=Airstrikes and Ethiopia officially declares war on Somali courts}} After Beledweyne had become the target of airstrikes, the Courts decided to withdraw from the city.{{Cite book |last=Suldaan Ibraahim |first=Dr. Suldaan Maxamed |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/1325678883 |title=Hormuud Habaabay: Milicsiga Kacdoonkii Maxaakiimta Islaamiga Ahaa (2006–2009kii) |publisher=Hill Press |pages=34–36}} There were battles in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011. In December 2011, the Transitional Federal Government took control of Beledweyne from al-Shabaab. Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers and around 3,000 Ethiopian Army troops descended on the city, capturing it following several hours of fighting.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16372453 |title=Ethiopian troops capture Beledweyne from Somalia militants |work=BBC News |access-date=2011-12-31 |date=December 31, 2011 |archive-date=2011-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231173743/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16372453 |url-status=live }}
In April 2008 al-Shabaab fighters killed British/Somalian Head-teacher Daud Ali and three of his teachers at the Hiran Educational Project in Beledweyne. This project had been started by Mr Ali to provide a British type education to primary-aged children in the war-torn region.{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Margaret |date=2008-05-15 |title=Daud Hassan Ali |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/may/16/1 |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
In 2009, an al-Shabaab suicide car bomber killed 57 people at a hotel. In 2013, they killed 16 people at a restaurant in October and 19 people at a police station in November. In February 2022, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber killed 14 people at a restaurant.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/19/suicide-bombing-kills-in-somali-restaurant|title=Suicide bombing kills 14 in Somali restaurant|work=The Guardian|date=19 February 2022|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219225124/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/19/suicide-bombing-kills-in-somali-restaurant|url-status=live}} In March 2022, they killed over 50 people in a series of attacks.
Municipality
On May 7, 2012, Beledweyne held its first mayoral elections since the start of the civil war in the early 1990s. Two hundred delegates took part in the contest, which was overseen by the Hiran region's head of elections, Sadaq Omar Sabriye. Mohamed Hassan Nuriye emerged as the new city mayor, obtaining 135 votes versus 11 and 8 votes, respectively, for the two nearest competitors.{{cite web|title=Beledweyne finally gets elected mayor|url=http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/05/07/beledweyne-finally-gets-elected-mayor/|publisher=Bar-Kulan|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305004359/http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/05/07/beledweyne-finally-gets-elected-mayor/|url-status=live}}
In his first day in office, Mayor Nuriye officially banned firearms within the city limits. He also warned that people found contravening the edict would have their weapons impounded and could face imprisonment. In addition, Nuriye indicated that for security reasons, government soldiers who were not on patrol should remain within their bases. Soldiers would likewise only be permitted to carry weapons in the city while conducting security operations.{{cite web|title=Newly appointed Beledweyne mayor bans firearms in the city|url=http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/05/08/newly-appointed-beledweyne-mayor-bans-firearms-in-the-city/|publisher=Bar-Kulan|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113820/http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/05/08/newly-appointed-beledweyne-mayor-bans-firearms-in-the-city/|url-status=live}}
To further tighten up on security, Beledweyne municipality over a three-day period started simultaneously registering all local residents. Mayor Nuriye also unveiled plans for a citywide beautification campaign. In July 2012, his administration imposed a two-day night-time curfew in Beledweyne, while government soldiers demolished structures that had been illegally erected along the area's main road in one of the Municipality's first urban renewal initiatives.{{cite web|title=Nighttime curfew imposed on Beledweyne|url=http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/07/19/nighttime-curfew-imposed-on-beledweyne/|publisher=Bar-kulan|access-date=31 July 2012|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182127/http://www.bar-kulan.com/2012/07/19/nighttime-curfew-imposed-on-beledweyne/|url-status=live}}
In March 2015, the Beledweyne municipality launched a civilian tax collection program in the city. The tax revenue is earmarked for essential public social services. Additionally, the city government is slated to register all local businesses, which will further facilitate tax gathering. The municipal authorities are also scheduled to set up a new citywide house numbering system.{{cite news|title=Residents of Baladweyne Told To Pay Taxes|url=http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=11839|access-date=16 March 2015|agency=Goobjoog|date=16 March 2015|archive-date=27 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327011110/http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=11839|url-status=live}}
In 2019, Safiya Jimale became the first female mayor in Somalia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/05/28/somalia-s-first-female-mayor-appointed-in-city-of-beledweyne/|title=Somalia's first female mayor appointed in city of Beledweyne|date=28 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=9 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909120618/https://www.africanews.com/2019/05/28/somalia-s-first-female-mayor-appointed-in-city-of-beledweyne/|url-status=dead}}
Transportation
Beledweyne is served by Beledweyne Airport. As of February 2015, the Djibouti Defense Forces have refurbished the airstrip.{{cite news|title=Chief of the Djibouti Defence Forces Major General Zakaria Sheikh arrives Beledweyn, Hiran|url=http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=10485|access-date=19 February 2015|agency=Goobjoog|date=19 February 2015|archive-date=20 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220011700/http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=10485|url-status=live}}
Demographics
The district has a total population of 1,500,000 with 79/21 percent rural/urban divide, and it is inhabited by the Hawadle clans.{{cite web|title=Sector IV Profile: Belet Weyne|website=amisom-au.org|publisher=AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia)|url=https://amisom-au.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Sector-IV-Belet-Weyne.pdf|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120143034/https://amisom-au.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Sector-IV-Belet-Weyne.pdf|url-status=live}}
Climate
Beledweyne has a hot arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). Between March and April, the average daily maximum temperature in the city is {{convert|36.7|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}. In January and February, the average daily minimum temperature is {{convert|21.8|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}.
{{Weather box
|location = Beledweyne, Somalia
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan record high C = 41.5
|Feb record high C = 42.5
|Mar record high C = 43.0
|Apr record high C = 43.0
|May record high C = 41.3
|Jun record high C = 39.0
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 39.0
|Sep record high C = 40.2
|Oct record high C = 45.0
|Nov record high C = 40.0
|Dec record high C = 42.0
|year record high C = 45.0
|Jan high C = 34.5
|Feb high C = 35.4
|Mar high C = 36.7
|Apr high C = 36.9
|May high C = 34.9
|Jun high C = 34.0
|Jul high C = 33.0
|Aug high C = 33.8
|Sep high C = 35.3
|Oct high C = 34.4
|Nov high C = 34.8
|Dec high C = 34.5
|year high C = 34.8
|Jan mean C = 28.2
|Feb mean C = 28.7
|Mar mean C = 30.0
|Apr mean C = 30.4
|May mean C = 29.2
|Jun mean C = 28.4
|Jul mean C = 27.8
|Aug mean C = 27.7
|Sep mean C = 29.0
|Oct mean C = 28.7
|Nov mean C = 28.5
|Dec mean C = 28.5
|year mean C = 28.7
|Jan low C = 22.0
|Feb low C = 22.0
|Mar low C = 23.4
|Apr low C = 23.9
|May low C = 23.4
|Jun low C = 22.8
|Jul low C = 22.6
|Aug low C = 21.6
|Sep low C = 22.7
|Oct low C = 22.6
|Nov low C = 22.3
|Dec low C = 22.3
|year low C = 22.6
|Jan record low C = 16.0
|Feb record low C = 16.5
|Mar record low C = 17.0
|Apr record low C = 16.0
|May record low C = 18.0
|Jun record low C = 17.0
|Jul record low C = 17.0
|Aug record low C = 16.3
|Sep record low C = 17.2
|Oct record low C = 17.0
|Nov record low C = 15.0
|Dec record low C = 15.0
|year record low C = 15.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 0
|Feb rain mm = 1
|Mar rain mm = 5
|Apr rain mm = 48
|May rain mm = 59
|Jun rain mm = 6
|Jul rain mm = 3
|Aug rain mm = 3
|Sep rain mm = 8
|Oct rain mm = 51
|Nov rain mm = 16
|Dec rain mm = 5
|year rain mm = 204
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 0
|Apr rain days = 5
|May rain days = 5
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 4
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 0
|year rain days = 20
|Jan humidity = 58
|Feb humidity = 57
|Mar humidity = 57
|Apr humidity = 60
|May humidity = 64
|Jun humidity = 61
|Jul humidity = 65
|Aug humidity = 64
|Sep humidity = 59
|Oct humidity = 64
|Nov humidity = 63
|Dec humidity = 62
|year humidity = 61
|Jan sun = 288.3
|Feb sun = 276.9
|Mar sun = 288.3
|Apr sun = 243.0
|May sun = 272.8
|Jun sun = 249.0
|Jul sun = 201.5
|Aug sun = 232.5
|Sep sun = 246.0
|Oct sun = 223.2
|Nov sun = 243.0
|Dec sun = 269.7
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 9.3
|Febd sun = 9.8
|Mard sun = 9.3
|Aprd sun = 8.1
|Mayd sun = 8.8
|Jund sun = 8.3
|Juld sun = 6.5
|Augd sun = 7.5
|Sepd sun = 8.2
|Octd sun = 7.2
|Novd sun = 8.1
|Decd sun = 8.7
|yeard sun = 8.3
| Jan percentsun = 80
| Feb percentsun = 79
| Mar percentsun = 65
| Apr percentsun = 53
| May percentsun = 54
| Jun percentsun = 61
| Jul percentsun = 54
| Aug percentsun = 62
| Sep percentsun = 62
| Oct percentsun = 57
| Nov percentsun = 60
| Dec percentsun = 69
| year percentsun =
|source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_632400_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Beled Weyne (Belet Uen) / Somalia
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 October 2016
| archive-date = 12 April 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200412180530/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_632400_kt.pdf
| url-status = live
}}
|source 2 = Food and Agriculture Organization: Somalia Water and Land Management (percent sunshine){{cite web
|url = http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls
|title = Long term mean monthly sunshine fraction in Somalia
|publisher = Food and Agriculture Organization
|access-date = 4 November 2016
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005063105/http://sddr.faoswalim.org/downloads/Long%20Term%20Mean_Monthly__sunshine%20fraction.xls
|archive-date = 2016-10-05
|url-status = dead
}}
}}
Notable residents
- Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, first President of Somalia
- Omar Hashi Adan, National Security Minister
- Mohamed Farah Aidid, former general in the Somali National Army and warlord
Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
References
- [http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-4556157&fid=5791&c=somalia Beledweyne, Somalia]